A jet fuel spill from the Gardiner airport last weekend caused some parts of Gardiner to smell like a gas station when a portion of the leak reached the Wallkill River.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) responded to a report of odors and a sheen on the Wallkill river from the Gardiner Fire Chief on Oct. 7. The DEC determined the spill was a result of the release of jet fuel at the Gardiner airport.

The jet fuel traveled several hundred feet across the airfields before running into nearby drainage swales, according to a report from the DEC. While a majority of the fuel ended up in the retention pond on the airport’s property, some of it crossed Sand Hill Road and followed a small stream a half mile to the Wallkill, causing odors and a sheen on the river.

No recoverable product was noted on the river and no impacts on wildlife have been seen, but the DEC continues to monitor the area. The spill hasn’t impacted residential drinking water wells or surface drinking water sources, according to the DEC.

The DEC, which oversees the clean-up, hired American Petroleum Equipment and Construction Company, Inc. to place booms in the retention pond and remove recoverable fuel. American Petroleum recovered about 1,000 gallons of fuel. Hard and soft booms were also placed in nearby drainage swells, streams and the river to collect the sheen.

American Petroleum is also excavating and removing the impacted soils along the path of release. The impact is shallow, and the excavation hasn’t been deeper than a foot.

Parts of the town have a foul smell, Town Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said.

“Farmer’s Turnpike reeked like a refinery, you get a headache,” Majestic said.

Resident Scott Mosher also said parts of the Wallkill smelled and asked if the town board was going to do anything to address the spill in a regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 9.

While Majestic said she is unsure of the town’s role in the cleanup, the board is concerned about its residents and environment.

“The town is of course concerned for its residents and its ground water and for the environmental factors in the stream, the retention pond, in the ground, in the Wallkill,” Majestic said. “So, it’s something we will be paying close attention to.”

The cause of the spill hasn’t been determined, and the DEC is unsure how long the clean-up process will take. Concerned residents can call 845-256-3121 or email Daniel.Bendell@DEC.NY.gov for information.