Unified Command Established for Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen Response
Summary
A Unified Command has been established in Brunswick, Georgia to coordinate response actions for the ongoing Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen (BERMS) investigation. The multi-agency response, including US Coast Guard, EPA, and Georgia DNR, has been working since February 2019 to identify the source and contain any discharge. Spill response contractors are actively working to locate and secure the source to prevent environmental impacts.
What changed
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division, in coordination with US Coast Guard, EPA, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, has established a Unified Command structure to manage the ongoing Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen response. The investigation, which began in February 2019, continues to work toward identifying the source of the unknown discharge, with hard boom and absorbent materials deployed to contain product and protect the waterway.
Affected parties in the Brunswick area should be aware of the coordinated response structure and report any pollution to the National Response Center. Responsible parties, if identified, may face remediation obligations under federal and state environmental law.
What to do next
- Report any pollution sightings to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802
- Contact Unified Command via email for media inquiries
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Brunswick, GA – A Unified Command has been established in Brunswick on Tuesday to coordinate response actions and disseminate information for the Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen (BERMS) Response.
An investigation has been ongoing since February 2019 to identify the source of the sheen affecting the waterway. Hard boom and absorbent materials have been placed around the property’s waterfront to contain and recover any product that enters the water as the source of the sheen remains unknown at this time.
The Unified Command has spill response contractors working to locate and secure the source of the discharge to prevent any potential environmental impacts.
The Brunswick East River Mystery Sheen (BERMS) Response Unified Command includes the:
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Additional Supporting Agencies:
City of Brunswick Fire
City of Brunswick Emergency Management
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Resolve Marine, Inc.
The media is requested to email [email protected] for response inquiries and interviews.
The Unified Command’s operational priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and responders and protecting the environment, information dissemination, and maintaining the stability of the Marine Transportation System.
For any reports of pollution please contact the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.
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