A tractor trailer carrying a concrete additive wrecked right past the entrance to the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge in Suches Tuesday evening, January 11, resulting in a hazardous waste spill.
While on the scene Wednesday morning Jed Hewitt, state on-scene coordinator with the Georgia Environmental Protection Devision and Department of Natural Resources (EPD-DNR), and State On-Scene Coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jordan Jarrard both confirmed that they do not expect much, if any, negative impact to the area’s wildlife as a result of the spill.
At the time, no dead fish had been detected in the area.
According to Fire Chief Larry Thomas, who was also on scene Wednesday, the responsible parties’ back tires of the trailer went off the road while going through the curve just south of the bridge entrance, causing the trailer to tip sideways into the right-hand shoulder.
The impact of the overturn caused a puncture to the trailer, resulting in the substance to leak out into the drainage ditch that runs into Little Skeenah Creek.
The government agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Fannin County Emergency Management Agency/Fire Department and the sheriff’s department, were all alerted and visited the scene.
At the cost of the responsible party, Marion Environmental Inc. out of Chattanooga, was tasked with the clean up, which involved barricading the drain that runs to the creek and sucking up the waste with a fracking truck.
EPD-DNR and EPA were continuing to test the waters, and downstream, into Wednesday night.