LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Crews with the Metropolitan Sewer District helped stop 30,000 gallons of oil from getting into Louisville's waterways after last week's deadly UPS plane crash.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said Monday that some areas of the site near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport had 3 or more feet of standing oil after the crash.
"MSD has been coordinating the cleanup here," Greenberg said during a news conference at Metro Hall. "They have helped stopped 30,000 gallons of oil from going into our groundwater. They and their entire team should be commended for the early action and continued work that they've done throughout this process to protect our waterways, to protect our ground from further contamination from all of the gas and the oil."
The mayor said "early action prevented an even worse catastrophe from happening," specifically early action by MSD to limit the spread of runoff from the crash site.
Tony Parrott, executive director of MSD, said the agency's Environmental Response Team responded and was ready to mobilize within 90 minutes of the Nov. 4 crash.
MSD's Industrial Waste Division, Parrott said, immediately began monitoring nearby waterways for potential contamination and runoff from the crash and subsequent explosion, and implement any mitigation efforts needed.
Because of the quick response, Parrott said crews were able to place "floating booms" to absorb oil in nearby waterways such as the Northern Ditch, which is off National Turnpike.
When assessing the scene early Wednesday, the morning after the crash, Parrott said crews found a drainage basin near the scene that had been impacted by runoff from the crash site.
Parrott said runoff is primarily located "in the pond creek watershed," and interconnected waterways eventually drain down to the Ohio River. But because they were able to assess the scene early, that basin has been isolated ever since. Parrott said that means everything that had collected in that basin didn't release into the waterways, allowing them to contain a lot of oil and runoff from the crash site.
A contractor hired by UPS is working with MSD, the EPA and local Emergency Management Agency to clean up the site as they continue assessing any environmental impact from the crash.
On Friday, MSD issued a warning to the community to avoid contact with waterways in the southern part of Jefferson County "due to potentially contaminated runoff from UPS plane crash." Parrott said Monday the warning, although precautionary, will remain in effect until otherwise stated as crews continue assessing waterways over the next few weeks.
Those living in the southern part of Jefferson County are asked to continue avoiding contact with waterways, especially along Pond Creek and the Northern and Southern ditches. Contact includes touching, fishing, swimming and kayaking. However, Parrott said, there is no impact to the drinking water in those areas.
"Unless you've been contacted by Louisville Water, you should not be concerned about your drinking water," he said.
Pets should also be kept away from the water.
Parrott said anyone who sees oil, debris or discoloration should report it to MSD by calling 502-540-6000 or emailing customerrelations@louisvillemsd.org.
The crash scene is still restricted to first responders only, Greenberg said, as it "remains a dangerous place to be."
The National Transportation Safety Board remains on the ground at the crash site continuing their investigation as first responders begin moving heavy equipment and parts of the plane that fell into the crash site.
While Greenberg said Saturday all reported missing victims in the crash had been found, this work will allow other first responders to continue searching for any victims that may still remain.
"We were able to line up the number of victims that had been removed from the scene with the number of missing persons reports that were taken by the Louisville Metro Police Department," Louisville EMA Director Jody Meiman said.
As that heavy equipment and debris is removed, Meiman said crews are searching the areas for any possible victims.
A contractor is also on site, he said, taking any personal belongings that "could be associated with a victim or anyone else who was in the area at the time of the crash."
The total number of fatalities remains 14.
Greenberg and Meiman said Monday the city is working to open more resources for impacted individuals and businesses. A new hotline is expected to open Tuesday afternoon for victims and survivors to call for information. The city is also planning to open a Community Resource Center by the end of the week to provide on-site resources for those who need them.
"Our work as we continue to support the victims will continue as long as necessary," Greenberg said.
Meiman said the cleanup will be a "long, drawn-out effort" as crews work to reduce the footprint of the disaster site.
While the scene is still restricted to first responders, Meiman said they are in "constant contact" with impacted businesses in the area and are coordinating "temporary, short, escorted visits" when and where possible. Businesses will be contacted as the process continues, Meiman said.
Other city agencies monitoring and assisting in cleanup efforts include the Louisville Water Company and the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Meiman said LG&E had to rebuild a portion of the infrastructure on Grade Lane following the crash.
Okolona fire crews remain among first responders still at the scene. Greenberg said an Okolona firefighter suffered a minor knee injury Sunday but has since been released and is recovering.
"It's amazing to think, that with all these first responders, that was the first injury of a first responder that we had at the scene," he said.
Greenberg said the Jefferson County Coroner's Office is working "as quickly as possible" to get victims identified, which is made "incredibly challenging" due to the nature of the crash.
The mayor said he, along with LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey, Congressman Morgan McGarvey and others met with employees, customers and others who were either at the crash site or nearby when it happened, including those who are part of the Grade A Auto Parts family, to offer them support as they grieve.
"It was family members of the people who've passed away, it was people who were there who managed to escape, some who helped others escape. Their stories are heartbreaking," McGarvey, D-Louisville, said. "The pain is still so fresh and so real it is sometimes even masked by the shock of how they talk about it."
Greenberg talked about how they heard "incredible acts of heroism" from people who aren't trained first responders, but employees who "jumped into action to save their colleagues."
"We will be there to continue to support the entire Grade A family and all of the other victims and survivors for as long as it takes," he said.
McGarvey said he talked to a man who was there when the crash happened who said he was in his office in a different building.
"He talked about how he heard the explosions and ran outside and all he could see was fire and he was paralyzed," McGarvey said. "And he realized what was happening, and the heat was so intense that he knew he wanted to run but he said he couldn't move his feet. It was only after that someone credited him with saving their life because they said that he was yelling to run while he himself couldn't move his own feet. But he doesn't remember telling people to run.
"These stories I think are going to keep coming out, and, as they do, it's so important for all of us to continue lifting each other up, to continue talking about if you need help, ask for it. There's so many services available and we're all here for each and every one of you."
McGarvey also touched on the federal side of the investigation and said the NTSB is working to get answers as quickly as possible.
"They are thorough. They are deliberate. They are intentional," he said. "We want those answers now. They want those answers as well but they are going to make sure they are right before they get them out there to the public. They are still very much doing this work and intentional about it."
The congressman also applauded the EPA in working with agencies to ensure cleanup is as thorough as it can possibly be.
"All of us, city, state, federal, every single person out there working together to help get answers, to help people who need it, to help make sure that in spite of this awful, almost incomprehensible tragedy, that we're doing everything we can to put the pieces back together and help each other out."
How we got here
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, built in 1991, went down around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 4 after its left wing caught fire. The plane was fully loaded with fuel for the nine-hour flight to Honolulu from UPS Worldport.
UPS released the identifies of the three pilots on board: Capt. Richard Warternberg, First Officer Lee Truitt and International Relief Officer Capt. Dana Diamond.
The bodies of the victims who have been located have been removed from the wreckage site by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, and officials are working to positively identify each of the victims.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday the "black box" inside the UPS plane recorded a "repeating bell" sound for the final 25 seconds of Tuesday's flight.
Todd Inman, a member of the NTSB, said in a news conference Friday that the takeoff roll was uneventful for UPS Flight 2976 as the pilots went through their speed callouts. About 37 seconds after they called for takeoff thrust, Inman said the Cockpit Voice Recorder picked up the bell sound, which continued until the end of the recording, which he said they believe was the moment of impact with the ground south of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
Inman said the pilots "engaged in effort to control the aircraft" during those final 25 seconds.
The full CRV audio won't be released by the NTSB, which is standard protocol. But Inman said a CVR group, made up of technical experts on the MD-11, will convene at NTSB headquarters and produce a written transcript of pertinent information. However, Inman said in may be "several months" before that's released.
Flight records suggest the 34-year-old plane underwent maintenance while it was on the ground in San Antonio for more than a month, from September through mid-October, which Inman confirmed Thursday.
Three different reports were filed in early September. One shows the "center wing upper fuel tank" had a crack in it and needed a permanent repair. The other two reports reveal corrosion in the plane's center cargo area.
Inman said Thursday that, while the flight Tuesday was delayed two hours, there's currently no evidence that a maintenance issue played a role prior to takeoff.
On Friday, he said the work in San Antonio could be classified as a "heavy check," adding that they've dispatched additional people to retrieve extensive records from the repairs.
Thursday, Inman said the CRV showed the plane was going 210 miles per hour at 100 feet of altitude at the last reading retrieved from the crash debris.
Federal aviation officials issued an order Saturday for McDonnell Douglas MD-11 planes not to be flown pending further inspection.
Some victims identified
Sean Garber, owner and CEO of Grade A Auto Parts and Recycling, identified two of three employees — on behalf of their families — that were missing after Tuesday's plane crash.
When the UPS cargo plane went down Tuesday afternoon near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, the debris hit two nearby businesses. There were “extra smaller explosions” at Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, which is now known as GFL Environmental, and Grade A Auto Parts was also hit.
Garber was out of town and about to fly back to Louisville when he got a call from his CFO.
"Very shortly after she said it blew up, a bunch of people in the background I heard saying a plane crashed, and Jordy said a plane crashed. And then I thought 'well, maybe the plane crashed in the woods, and so it wasn’t really at our place,' and so I said where did this plane crash and, unfortunately, it crashed on top of us" Garber said Wednesday.
Employees started implementing the evacuation plan they've practiced in the past, but three employees still hadn't been found as of Wednesday.
Friday night, Garber identified two of the employees he said are victims. John Loucks, 52, was a heavy equipment operator and Megan Washburn, 35, was a scrap metal buyer and customer experience agent, Garber said.
Washburn leaves behind two children, a 20-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. Loucks had no children.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to support Grade A Auto Parts employees, the business's buildings were destroyed in the crash that "resulted in the loss and injury of both customers and employees who were on site at the time."
Garber said Wednesday they weren't sure how many customers were in the building or who was in the building at the time of the crash.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
On Friday, the University of Louisville's College of Business said one of its alumni, Matt Sweets, died Thursday from critical burn injuries caused by the crash.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire UPS community," the university said in a Facebook post Friday.
UofL said Sweets is survived by his partner, Brooke Murray, and their two children.
"Matt lived with love, humility and quiet strength," Sweets' sister, Carrie Ryan, told the university. "He was a devoted father, a loving partner, a caring son and the best big brother anyone could ask for. He had a way of making everyone feel seen and cared for. Our hearts are shattered, and we’re struggling to grasp that he’s truly gone."
According to a GoFundMe page set up by a family member, Sweets was "caught in the fireball aftermath" of the UPS plane crash Tuesday and suffered severe burns to over 95% of his body.
Click here for the GoFundMe page.
Lawsuit claims negligence
A lawsuit was filed Thursday against UPS, General Electric and Boeing, claiming the companies' recklessness contributed to the plane crash Tuesday that killed 14 people.
Shakeara Ware, who lives near the crash site, joined Triple D, Inc., and Ensey LLC, in the class action complaint filed by Morgan & Morgan. Triple D is an auto repair shop on Knopp Avenue destroyed by the plane, and Ensey LLC, owns the building where Triple D, Inc., operates, according to Jefferson County property records.
The suit also takes aim at the aircraft itself, saying the MD-11 and CF-6 engines have a long history of catastrophic failures — and that the MD-11 has the second-worst safety record of any commercial aircraft still flying.
The lawsuit asks for an order certifying the class as well as unspecified damages.
Another lawsuit is also expected — from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston — on behalf of Kentucky families who were injured or killed, including employees at Grade A Recycling.
IMAGES | UPS plane crash sparks massive plume of smoke across Louisville area
This story may be updated.
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