CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coast Guard, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the North Charleston Fire Department continue to oversee clean-up efforts of the fuel tanker truck spill on Virginia Avenue in North Charleston Wednesday afternoon.
A tanker truck transporting gasoline and kerosene overturned and began spilling its contents into a tidal marsh area near the Cooper River at 10 p.m. Tuesday. The truck owner’s representatives, Fuss and O’Neill, hired Moran Environmental Recovery to conduct clean-up operations to minimize environmental impact to sensitive marine areas. The maximum potential discharge of the truck was 7,600-gallons of gasoline and 1,000-gallons of kerosene.
Responders and clean-up crews used boom, oil skimmers, vacuum trucks, and absorbent pads to collect product on the eastern part of Filbin Creek. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided trajectory analysis that showed little potential for the spill to enter the Cooper River.
A Coast Guard helicopter from Air Facility Charleston conducted an over flight of Filbin Creek and the Cooper River to look for any additional impacted areas.
Coast Guard response coordinators have not received any reports of wildlife or environmental impact. The Coast Guard expects that boaters transiting through the area might smell the spilled product downwind of the scene. Anyone who sees impacted wildlife should contact the Coast Guard Sector Charleston Command Center at 843-724-7616.
Operations are expected to continue for next the 48-hours.
