Oil spill spotted in Kiamesha Lake By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - Oil draining from a source at Leisure Time Water & Ice Co. into Kiamesha Lake poses no threat to Monticello water users, village manager William Cummings announced at a March 20 board meeting.

The lake is the main drinking water source for most of the Village of Monticello, but was not seriously damaged by the spill, Cummings claimed. "It has not contaminated our water system. It's nowhere near the intake valves," Cummings said.

Cleanup efforts are now underway.

Progressive changes in the taste and odor of drinking water were revealed by routine daily water quality tests by water works staff, Cummings said. A visible slick was first spotted on the lake March 20, when the ice sheet melted, said public works director George Panchyshyn.

Cummings commended Panchyshyn and his staff for discovering the spill when they did. "It could have been a very serious incident if they hadn't been paying attention."

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is investigating and "will probably fine Leisure Time" for the spill, Cummings claimed.

DEC officials were unavailable at presstime.

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