Report: Coast Guard estimates that 5,200 gallons of Con Ed's insulating oil spilled into the East River

As previously reported, a transformer containing approximately 37,000 gallons of insulating oil used with electrical equipment failed on Sunday, spilling onto the station property in Downtown Brooklyn and into the East River.

According to DNAinfo, emergency workers have recovered 560 gallons of the synthetic mineral — less than 2 percent of the total lost.

Of the remaining 30,700 gallons of lost oil, some may still be recovered on land around the Farragut Substation, but the U.S. Coast Guard estimated Wednesday that around 5,200 gallons seeped into the river Sunday.

That estimate is based on averages from other cleanups where the agency estimates it can usually collect ten percent of the oil that escapes into water, officials said.

And clean water advocates warn that breakneck currents along the East River make it, "almost the worst possible spill recovery scenario."

The spill occurred at Con Ed's Farragut Substation...



Back to DNAinfo:

Synthetic mineral oil is considered "non-toxic" by the state's DEC and is less harmful to water quality and wildlife than petroleum, though it can still harm fish and birds, according to a Con Edison spokesman.

People should avoid direct contact with the spill as it can cause eye and skin irritation and shouldn't fish in the area, according to the state DEC.

There wasn't any evidence of anything amiss/spilt along the East River Promenade this afternoon...

The usual group of men were fishing between the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge...





... and a little further north...





... and how about that Domino Sugar Refinery redevelopment ...