Jul 16, 2025, 5:36 PM

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Updated

An oil spill continues to spread through Mill River in East Rockaway. Since Monday night, hundreds of gallons of oil have leaked into the waterway. Although cleanup efforts are underway, the exact source of the spill has not yet been located.

Crews have been using absorbent materials to soak up the oil and bagging the contaminated debris for disposal. Trucks have been hauling away the waste as quickly as it’s collected.

East Rockaway resident Garry Aue, who has spent 60 years on Long Island’s waters, was shocked to find his boat surrounded by an oily ring.

“Our boat had a ring on it, oil everywhere,” he said. Instead of catching lobsters Wednesday morning, Aue found himself dealing with the environmental fallout. “We get our food from here. They have got to take care of it.”

Officials say the oil is likely dielectric fluid, a type of mineral oil used to insulate PSEG’s electric transmission lines. PSEG reports it has made progress narrowing down the source and will begin repairs as soon as the exact location is confirmed.

To the eye, the oil appears as a rainbow sheen on the water, but its impact goes far beyond surface appearance.

Resident Michael Matthews described the scene bluntly.

“It’s a mess. There’s oil everywhere. The swans are covered in oil.” Matthews personally hosed oil off one swan, concerned about the wildlife in the area. “The wildlife, the fish, the birds—it’s sad," he says.

Adrianne Esposito, from Citizens Campaign for the Environment, warns the fluid poses a serious risk to birds, potentially causing hypothermia if their feathers become matted.

A floating barrier has been deployed to contain the spill, but oil continues to make its way into the community.

“I wish they would do a better job cleaning up,” Matthews added.

Despite the environmental damage, both PSEG and the Nassau County Fire Marshal have stated that the fluid does not pose a health risk to humans.