DEM issues update after gasoline tanker truck with 11,000 gallons of gasoline overturned near river on I-95

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

According to Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, as of 5:00 a.m. this morning, the tanker truck was removed from the roadway. DEM remains on scene to oversee clean-up 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 was released, the remainder of the 11,000 gallons was safely removed from the tank. Response operations caused increased water flow into the drain system, resulting in gasoline and oil discharge into the Providence River.

Contractors have set up multiple layers of floating containment booms to reduce the environmental impacts to the river. DEM continues to work with the contractors at NEDT to remove the remaining gasoline from the roadway, catch basins, and river. Some sheen may still be visible on the water. Clean-up efforts will continue and gasoline will evaporate throughout the day.

DEM thanked the first responders who secured the scene so quickly and noted that legislative funding provided PFAS-free fire-fighting foam that was used in this incident.