Aluminum Sulfate Spill Closed Route 7 at Vermont Border for 4 Hours
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Route 7 at the Vermont border was closed for four hours on Saturday morning to deal with a truck leaking aluminum sulfate.
The truck departing from Holland Co. in Adams when it began to leak at the base of the Hadley Overpass in North Adams. The liquid left a 2-foot wide line of white all the way down Route 8 into Williamstown.
The truck was stopped across from Stewart's in Pownal, Vt., and the highway closed until the material could be investigated.
According to the Northern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee, aluminum sulfate is used to treat drinking water.
"Please be advised there are no concerns to the public or the environment and all measures are being taken to clean the roadway," the NBREPC stated in a release. "After the Massachusetts Tier 1 Hazardous Material Team conducted testing and in agreement with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Public Work agencies in Williamstown and North Adams are currently covering the substance with a neutralizing agent, which will then be swept up and disposed of properly."
Emergency officials said, "Holland Company is in full cooperation with local and state officials who will continue to test and assess the situation."
Williams College sent out a cautionary alert to the college community advising that the spill on Main Street be avoided because of slip hazards and the potential for animal companions to ingest the material.
The Reindog Parade will move its start to the Science Quad on Saturday afternoon to avoid crossing Main Street.
Vermont State Police closed the road from about 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. in assisting the Pownal Fire Department in containing the leak. State Police said it was caused by a faulty valve.
The material was quickly contained by emergency responders and Holland Co. provided resources to clean up the spill, said police. Along with Pownal Fire Department and the Vermont State Police, members of the State of Vermont Hazmat Team, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Bennington Fire Department and authorities from the State of Massachusetts responded to the scene.
