I appreciate paved and repaved spaces as much as the next person. I mean let’s face it, it makes for smoother travels in pretty much every last way possible. But when I heard that 11,000 gallons of asphalt was spilled into the Mystic River, I was like whoa.

According to the United States Coast Guard, the spill took place on Thursday at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the Everett section of the river.

The incident occurred during “an offload of asphalt from the 439-foot Palanca Singapore at the Exxon terminal” due to a hose failure. The asphalt solidified on the water’s surface.

I love a silky blacktops when it comes to improving roadway deformities and bumps, or cracked urban basketball courts or even a necessary parking lot.

But, accidentally dumping 11,000 gallons of asphalt (that’s 11,000 GALLONS!) into the river? All I can muster is, come on bro.

Luckily the Coast Guard is on the case. Clean Harbors and TMC Environmental are on the case and the USCG took an advisory role with a keen eye.

The Coast Guard noted further that the asphalt “was contained around the ship and there have been no known environmental impacts.”

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