Complaint ID 68791 — Public Copy

0846 LE officer McNeely called to advise that the RP reported to him that the vehicle was removed around 1 AM this morning. 1044 updated Heath with City of Savannah. No further EPD ERT actions required.

0816 received call from Heath Lloyd that the City of Savannah employees that man the water intake observed a sheen on their morning inspection around 0700. 0831 talked to LE officer McNeely to ask if he knew where the RP was in removing the truck.  He advised that they were going to be on site this morning removing it.  In the process of locating the truck, they also located 2 other vehicles.  0842 left message for RP. 0903 updated USCG. 1015 arrived at landing and did not observe sheen.  No one was on site removing the vehicle. 1030 met with City of Savannah personnel and walked onto their platform and did not observe a sheen in river.  Tide was incoming.  I updated Heath on findings of additional cars.  He expressed concern to have them removed. I went back to the landing and talked to 2 of the RP's friends who helped in locating the other vehicles.  They advised the RP's truck was in between the other 2 vehicles. 1419 The RP called to advise that they would be back on site around 1700 at low tide to try to remove the truck.  1517 Talked with Investigator Pollett who advised if they removed other vehicles the Sheriff's Dept would need to be on site to see if they were part of another case.  I told him they would be on site at 1700 and he could send a deputy to inform them. 1641 talked to EPD drinking water program managers about Heath's concern of remaining cars in river.  They agreed since they have been there for years there is less harm on leaving them than removing them and disturbing the environment.  If the City of Savannah proceeds with removal they will need to set up a monitoring plan along with plans for downtime to shutdown the intake. 1656 left message for Heath.

1043 left message for LE McNeely. 1203 MeNeely called back to advise that he had not made contact with the RP yet, but that he was going to pursue having the owner remove the vehicle.  He will call me back when he makes contact. 1231 talked to McNeely and he advised that the RP had gotten an estimate from Sea Tow, Sapp's Wrecker refused the job, and McNeely also gave him the contact info to Rahn's Wrecker in Effingham.  The RP has also been in touch with the insurance company.  The RP is going down to the river around 1700 at low tide to try to locate the vehicle.  They will try to remove it themselves if possible.  If not they will mark it and call a company.  It should be removed by tomorrow.  They are concerned that it may be moved from the location it sank at because it has 44 inch tires and a lift kit on it.  McNeely will follow-up on it tomorrow and update me. I informed CRD Buck Bennett since it is their jurisdiction as well.

0641 talked with Jim Laplander with the City of Savannah since the vehicle is submerged in the vicinity of the city's drinking water intake. Jim gave me the contact info for Heath Lloyd, who manages that facility. 0644 left message for Heath. 0650 Heath called back and I gave him all of the details that I had. He will have their personnel check the area. 0657 made NRC report to notify USCG. 0744 talked with USCG Nodal and gave him all of the details and Heath's contact info. They were more concerned with a navigation hazard than oil pollution. 0806 Heath left a message that there was still no sheen observed but they will keep an eye on it and re-check at low tide and call if they have any problems.

2305 received page from GEMA. Was briefed by operator Dontae Shepherd. He advised the PD called and asked for a DNR LE. Operator paged LE Shaymus McNeely and also made EPD report too. 2310 talked with Cpl Griner and he advised that the driver stated the gas light was on at the time it went off into the river so there was very little fuel on board. He advised that he had been in touch with LE and the LE officer advised that the owner would have to contact his insurance company and remove the vehicle even if by barge. LE will follow-up with it on Monday. They cannot use wrecker trucks because the vehicle is about 100 yds upstream and 30 ft below. There is nothing that can be done tonight.