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BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen (BERMS) Response has transitioned from the investigation phase to the response phase as Unified Command (UC) operations continue.
The BERMS site has been discharging oil into the East River for many years. The ongoing recovery efforts by the UC are intended to isolate the location of the contamination and remove oil consisting primarily of gasoline and diesel fuel released by previous property owners.
The investigation is currently focused on two properties off Bay Street. Response strategies were developed to stop oil from impacting the East River.
On a biweekly basis, the Unified Command has contractors conducting vacuuming operations on the installed monitoring wells on site. The wells are measured to document the amount of oil detected in the ground, and to track the success of the recovery process. The high vacuum recovery (HVR) units are industrial strength vacuums designed for oil recovery. Air monitoring on these wells is being conducted before, during and after the HVR events to ensure air quality is not being impacted by the HVR events. To date, air monitoring conducted at the site has not identified any exceedances of EPA risk-based air quality standards.
In addition to physically recovering oil, the UC has barriers (booms) in place to protect the East River. The barriers include an absorbent boom and a non-absorbent boom. The absorbent boom is replaced once it becomes saturated with oil and prevents the sheen from entering the rest of the river, the non-absorbent boom provides an additional layer of protection.
To date, approximately 6,400 gallons of oil have been recovered from the wells installed on the site.
The Unified Command’s operational priorities are:
1) Continuing to ensure the safety of the public and responders while protecting the environment
2) Provide timely updates to all stakeholders including the public
3) Maintaining the stability of the Marine Transportation System
The media is requested to email bermsresponse@uscg.mil for response inquiries and interviews.
For any reports of pollution please contact the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.
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