ENDICOTT - Equipment failure caused ethylene glycol, a refrigerant that can damage the heart, nerves and kidneys, to spill into storm sewers that flow to the Susquehanna River.

Ethylene glycol spilled from the Huron Campus on North Street Jan. 18, according to documents from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The exact amount of the spill is being determined, but it exceeded 5,000 gallons, according to initial estimates.

James McNamara, president of Endicott Interconnect Technology, said the company promptly reported the spill to appropriate state officials and effectively contained much of it. About 2,100 gallons of the chemical mixed with water escaped into the ground or the storm sewer, but does not pose a health threat, said Paul Speranza, manager of environmental and chemical services.

"Our hazmat team did a superb job and the measures in place are working," McNamara said.

Residents living with pollution -- remaining in the village from spills decades earlier -- expressed outrage Friday because they were not informed of the Jan. 18 spill.

"It's the same old thing. They don't disclose information unless we pry and poke and prod," said Bernadette Patrick, an Endicott resident and advocate. "They are not acting in good faith," added Alan Turnbull, also a resident and director of Resident Action Group of Endicott.

Patrick and Turnbull are members of a citizens committee that meets monthly to address pollution and related health issues in the village. They and others on the committee, called the Western Broome Environmental Stakeholders Coalition, said officials never informed them of the spill, despite meeting with officials on a regular basis.

The status of the spill investigation is open, according to the DEC documents.

For complete coverage of this story, see Saturday's Press & Sun-Bulletin.

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