If you Google, “Leaving a car in a creek.” Here is what comes up…

“EPA Violations: Leaving a vehicle in water is considered illegal disposal of hazardous waste and a discharge of pollutants.

Regulations on Vehicles:

Federal regulations (36 CFR § 327.2) strictly prohibit parking or operating vehicles in a way that damages or endangers natural resources, including water. Dumping anything toxic in a waterway is also a violation. rav-english-brochure.pdf

Penalties: Environmental violations can lead to severe civil fines, with some states imposing up to $25,000 per day per violation, or even criminal charges.

Immediate removal of the vehicle is usually required, and responsible parties may face both state and federal penalties for contamination.”

Report Environmental Violations | ECHO | US EPA

If this EVER happens again, get the vehicle OUT immediately! Waters of the United States, include creeks!

Clover Creek does connect to navigable waters, it flows into Puget Sound after Steilacoom Lake, making this a huge EPA violation. Waters of the United States is a term used in the Clean Water Act. More can be found about it here.

Signs of Possible Violations:
◆Strong, offensive, or unusual chemical odors
◆Large numbers of dead animals, including birds or fish
◆Pipes or valves that bypass waste water treatment systems
◆Tank trucks discharging into drains, manholes or surface waters
◆Oily slicks on bodies of water
◆Corroded, leaking waste containers
◆Barrels dumped at odd hours in out-of-the-way places

Also in that Federal regulation:
(g) Except as authorized by the District Commander, no person shall operate any motorized vehicle without a proper and effective exhaust muffler as defined by state and local laws, or with an exhaust muffler cutout open, or in any other manner which renders the exhaust muffler ineffective in muffling the sound of engine exhaust.

The photo below was taken during the time of March 11 to March 16, the period this car was said to be in Clover Creek near Washington High School. The car should have been removed immediately, if not by the driver, then by the jurisdiction. The driver, owner, and possibly Pierce County could face fines because this hazard was not immediately removed. Fluids such as battery acid, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluids, and gasoline all were potential risks to the water and wildlife.

Pierce County, Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resorces as well as the EPA were all potential reportable agencies in this incident.

Here is the report from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department:

On March 11^th at 9:01pm, callers reported a single vehicle in the ditch with a female driver and three small children that were out of the vehicle and uninjured.

There were no available deputies at the time the call came out. Deputies were not available to be dispatched until 11:28pm.

When deputies arrived, the driver and 3 passenger children had been picked up by family members and no contact information or location were given to the deputies. Multiple attempts to contact the registered owner of the vehicle were unsuccessful and the female driver and children that were reported inside the vehicle were never identified.

The vehicle was off the road, non-blocking. Due to no occupants in immediate danger, there was no need for a Dive Team callout to address the vehicle in the water and to remove it quickly.

It was marked for towing on 3/11. Due to heavy rainfall and snow, weather did not allow a response from our Dive Team to remove it.

On 3/16, two of our Dive Team specialists went out to remove the vehicle and worked collaboratively with our tow company. The vehicle was finally removed and impounded. The registered owner of the vehicle has still not come forward to claim it.