DEM issues update after tanker truck carrying 11,000 gallons of gasoline overturns in river on I-95 – Fall River Reporter

Officials have issued an update on an overturned gas tanker truck on Allens Avenue at the on-ramp to I-95 North in Providence on Saturday.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the tanker truck was removed from the roadway by 5 a.m. this morning. DEM remains on scene to oversee cleanup efforts in conjunction with New England Disposal Technologies, which was hired by the trucking company and is responsible for remediating any environmental impacts from the incident.

DEM stated that an estimated 2,500 gallons of gasoline were released, the remainder of the 11,000 gallons were safely removed from the tank. Response operations created increased water flow into the drainage system, resulting in gasoline and oil discharges into the Providence River.

Contractors have installed multiple layers of floating containment booms to reduce the environmental impact on the river. DEM continues to work with the contractors at NEDT to remove the remaining gasoline from the road, catch basins and river. Some sheen may still be visible on the water. Cleanup operations are continuing and the gasoline will evaporate throughout the day.

DEM thanked the emergency responders who quickly cleared the scene and noted that legislative funding allowed for the use of PFAS-free firefighting foam in this incident.