The plan to recover the bulldozer and dump truck from the attempted closure of the Kiawah River is being evaluated by the contractor, R.E. Goodson per Steve Hirsch from SIPOA. An article in the Post and Courier this morning offered a little more information. Here are some exerpts:
“No sooner than the sand berm went up to stop the Kiawah River, it came down. Now a bulldozer and a dump truck lie in the inlet off embattled Capt. Sam’s Spit.
The berm is designed to block the river where it empties into the ocean. It’s part of a recutting of the inlet by R.E. Goodson out of Darlington for the property owners association of neighboring Seabrook Island. It collapsed on Thursday to a surging tide a half-foot above normal. “The tide came in higher than they expected and it washed out,” U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Chris Ruleman said Friday.
An environmental cleanup company has been hired by Goodson to remove fuel, hydraulic fluid and other pollutants. Ruleman couldn’t say when the equipment might be able to be moved. “We’re continuing to investigate and keep an eye on it. We haven’t seen any sign of (oil product) sheening on the water so far,” Ruleman said. S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control staff also were on the scene Friday, a spokeswoman said.
A mariner’s warning is being broadcast because the equipment is too far under to be easily seen at high tide. Seabrook Island Town Administrator Randy Pierce said he drove out Friday morning and couldn’t see anything.”
Patricia Schaefer sent us these pictures from the scene today. The person in the photos is supposedly an engineer from R.E. Goodson.
Submitted by Tidelines Staff
By my count I see three of the biggest dozers manufactured and numerous off-road trucks (can’t think of any better tow equipment than these ). If the sand couldn’t support that, how would it support a 400 ton hydraulic crane close enough to the scene to do any good.
As usual the Monday morning quarterbacking doesn’t include people willing to try something that isn’t done everyday ( regardless of how you feel emotionally about it) .
It is unfortunate that it happened and hopefully there isn’t any lingering issues from it. I’m just glad that there are still people left in the world that are willing to risk $ 500,000 plus worth of equipment and people to try and accomplish something that by all evidence helps out the environment and property values.
Thanks to the past and the current Presidents for bringing this to fruition
Enjoy your summer !
Stunning that precautionary measures, such as a heavy tow or crane equipment weren’t in place for such an accident.
Friday afternoon a Coast Guard spokesman on scene said they would try to remove the fuel from the dump truck and bulldozer on Friday night or Saturday morning. Was that accomplished?