Fish killer

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
I work for the Regional District, we look after the potable water / sewer /storm drains. One of our past projects was / is Raey creek, a small stream that was a little worse for wear due to neglect and pollution. A lot of work from the local government, fisheries, and volunteers have gone into this and it looks fantastic. At one time it was a littered mess and now it is a fish bearing stream. The Regional District has painted little fish on all the storm drains to remind people that the drainage ends up in the streams and then the ocean. Around 2 months ago there was an incident where all the fish in that stream were killed from some idiot dumping solvents into a storm drain. Why? We'll never know the depths of some people's ignorance. Yesterday I was making my rounds in my Environmental Services truck and guess what I saw? I turned a corner and there he was, a painter dumping about a liter of oil based paint in the storm drain! I just about lost it guys... I put my lights on and stopped. I asked him what the hell he thought he was doing? This fool had the nerve to tell me to f-off. My instict was to drop the jerk but I smiled and told him that I'd look after it from here (good P.R. huh?). I got back in my truck and called the municipal superintendant to bring their vacuum truck a.s.a.p., then I called the cops, Fisheries and I happen to know the mayor and one of the engineers so they each got a call too. I wrote down a nice description and plate numbers... all that stuff... he packed up and sped off in his van before anyone else arrived. He gave me the finger and swore at me :) How pathetic. <br />He's not going to enjoy his meeting with the Fisheries officers. :)
 

dkondelik

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 10, 2002
Messages
643
Re: Fish killer

BANG! got 'em.<br /><br />good job magster. maybe his upcomming encounter will influence his future decisions and,.... perhaps,.... as the word gets around,.... it may influence others as well.
 

bubbakat

Captain
Joined
Oct 29, 2002
Messages
3,110
Re: Fish killer

That guy is an absoulate lazy knot head. I am glad you caught him. Most waste handling sites offer a collection day for the stuff he was dumping and he was to d%%%% m lazy to go to it \, Cheers to you for catching him.
 

OBJ

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 27, 2002
Messages
10,161
Re: Fish killer

Hats off to ya' magster. I like those kind of stories. :D :D :D
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Fish killer

Whata a coinky-dink!!! I also werk for the City in the environmental field,have operated the VacCon, Ques TV truck, and am the supervisor (at least for the next 92days, after which I'm retiring to werk elsewhere).<br /><br />Here's is a link to the following post, and it's replies. I certainly hope your courts are less liberal than ours here in the sunshine state.<br />The laws are there, but are useless sometimes.<br /> Anyway, here's the link
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Fish killer

And here's the post;According to a recent descision by a Lee County court, it is possable to dispose of used motor oil by simply opening the cleanout cap behind your home and dumping it directly into the sanitary sewer system.Just do not allow any law enforcement officer take a photgraph of the act( not that this would really make a difference)..<br />I know this because I brought this case before the court today, representing the State. I also saw a boater get a 50 dollar fine for speeding in a idle zone while boating in Matatcha Pass...He had pictures of the spot he was sighted at, and entire path he took to the channel, that had no signs posted!! He is appealing this ruling, But back to this oil issue.. <br />Do you change your own oil? Do you have 5gallon buckets of the goo ,waiting for a trip to the next "hazerdous waste disposal day" nearest you? Well, my friends, don't worry about it.. Just take the cap off your<br />sewer cleanout and pour it into the sewer. No need to be neat about it. If it happens to spill all over the outside of the cleanout, it will only kill the grass, but that doesn't matter. Allow pictures to be taken of this mess ,and your car still up on jacks with oil spilled all over the pad.<br />And no need to even put the oil drain pan up. Just toss it on the lawn beside the cleanout. The law enforcement officer can even take photos of all of this evidence, and prove beyond any reasonable doubt that oil was dumped into the sewer line from YOUR home, and you can be ruled innocent! Oh, sure, there is a 500 dollar fine for the first-time offence, but if the officer can't prove YOU personally dumped it, you walk.<br />Tell the judge, you have a wife and 7 children, and your gate does not lock, and that anyone could have done this,regarless that this property is yours! <br />If Johny Law DOES happen to click a pic of you in the process, just add the following statement,and you should still prevail.."Oh, that was just chocolate syrup". I didn't have a pic of that by the way,but thought I would get things ready for the next court case.<br />I Just thought I would vent. I spent most of the morning waiting for this case to appear. I sat through hearing about some guy's dog that got loose,and animal control issued 3 seperate citations,and the guy's atourney (yes a real for-money lawyer) was in a word, BRILLIANT..<br />I saw cases dissmissed because the arresting officer didn't show (no suprise there,I guess). Then this polution case. I do not know what else I could've given this court to prove the people's case! I'm done. I'll be retiring 15 months from now (none too soon). It is next to impossable to prosecute such low-life,and such low-life is paddling-over here by the raft load! They can destroy your water supply better than ANY terrorist group can ,AND GET AWAY WITH IT!!!<br />I had video tape showing the oil entering the sanitary mains,with dye that I taped myself introducing into the site. I had that dye and residual oil streaming-by the camera...This evidence was not even placed in the VCR! I had pics of the oil pan laying in the yard, mutant's "home" in the background. I had the pics of the truck REGISTERED TO THIS MUTANT, up on jacks with spillage visable underneath! Granted, this is not capital murder. But it might as well be to me, considering I have spent 29 years of my life trying to prevent this type of activity. Just as the cop on the street seeks making the streets safer and the C.G. officer seeks to make us safe on the water, I sought to try to keep our water safe to drink, and safe for the entire ecosystem.<br />The Coast Gaurd officer has lost.He must chase-down threats to manatees , in leu of threats to humans. The cop on the street has lost. He is crying over the makeshift grave of a mutants' 5year-old beaten,bruised and murdered offspring, burried behind a mobile home. I lost. I think I'm going to go fishing while I still can. I strongly urge you to do so also, and DO NOT leave your <br />children at home. Let them experiance what they soon will loose. I'm sorry if I seem a bit mellodramatic over this, but it is just a personal breaking-point for this camel's back!
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Fish killer

I'll bet you don't see guys with septic tanks doing that.<br /><br /> :mad: :mad:
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Fish killer

No, but a small percentage of the companies that are hired to clean said septic tanks, will dump thier trucks anywhere they are fairly sure of getting away with it, like in the middle of the everglades, on an untraveled dirt road. Sad, and truely devestating to the environment.<br />On a related note: The town I live in (Lehigh Acres,Florida), is now being denied permits for septic tanks due to density.
 

marty_scher

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 30, 2002
Messages
208
Re: Fish killer

Don't let this ruin your day, 12Footer.<br /><br />"dumping" something, has been around as long as man has been around, almost a tradition. As a kid on a farm, used motor oil was quite handy for weed or dust control, but then there was nothing else you could do with it.<br /><br />Industries used to dump everything in the nearest water. Does anyone remember when Lake Erie was on fire?<br /><br />Environmental laws and disposal procedures are helping greatly, but there will always be somebody who just doesn't get it. Tough enforcment will help.<br /><br />For what it is worth, our water and air is mostly cleaner than it was 40 years ago.<br /><br />Having a fish painted at storm drains is a good idea and will hopefully make people think before dumping. Is there any wording to go with the fish?<br /><br />Now go fishing and stop worrying!
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: Fish killer

Good job Magster... I hope they incarserate the dirtbag... At least a couple nights in the county jail.... Ya know, enuff time for him to become somebody's b!tch... :eek: <br /><br />12 Footer.. Gettin' crowded here is'nt it... Time to hit the road yet???... I think so...
 

12Footer

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Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Fish killer

I'm thinkin about it, Snapperbait ! you're right, it is getting nuts here. Traffic is insane. The Haitian populus is used to destroying thier environment over on thier tiny island, and I guess old habits followed them.<br />It sure gets old watching the slow decline of the local environment, the disproportionate response to threats to some species over others (the manatee boondoggle for an expample), while true threats to the very water we drink go unaddressed, or at minimum, the laws envoked to prevent it, igngored.<br />I'd move in a heartbeat, but where? I couldn't afford a move anyway, and would miss my family if I did. But it sure is tempting!
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: Fish killer

12Footer, you might be supprised about how we can't afford NOT to move... My property taxes are through the roof, windstorm insurance keeps going up by leaps and bounds, just to name a few things...<br /><br />My friend sold her house two doors over from me about a year and a half ago... A one and a half bath, three bedroom, termite infested wood frame fixer upper with no yard to speak of for $138,000..<br /><br />I've been looking around for something near some family in NW Georgia.. I could sell my place here and buy a three bed, two bath, and a six car garage (yes 6), with more property, much lower property taxes (i checked that out first), out in the Georgia countryside away from it all, and put at least $40 grand in the bank earning interest after it's all said and done! :eek: <br /><br />Of course I'd have to leave the only job I ever had that I look forward to everyday and find something else, but I can do it... Guess the only thing I'd really miss is the easy access to the ocean and the fishing (which ain't so hot anymore anyway)... Sell my flats boat and openfisherman and buy me a bassrocket and some plastic worms...<br /><br />Prepetual road construction (I gotta drive I-95 to work everyday and round here we call I-95 the worlds longest parking lot), nobody speaks english here (don't believe me, just go in any store and listen), people are rude, their continuing to build housing developments in places that untill a few months ago were under water out in the swamps of the everglades... To Hell with this place! Why don't they just pave over the whole damn state and be done with it???<br /><br />Enuff rambling on, for now... :p
 

12Footer

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
8,217
Re: Fish killer

All valid points for sure. And Hartwell,Georgia is beautiful this time of year.<br />Still, I live a bit too close to the cuff here.<br />My Property values may escalate due to the new permit restrictions, and if they do, I may be able to absconde with my sanity.Anybody looking for a 3bed,2 bath home in sunny southwest florida? I'll even throw-in a lawnmower (you'll need it).
 

ebbtide176

Commander
Joined
Jan 22, 2002
Messages
2,289
Re: Fish killer

amen to magster. snapper & 12'r, i hate to hear of that happening around you... atlanta has the 6lane parking lots too. i'm thinking of getting work driving the opposite direction from atlanta. <br />-i just wanted to remind you that if you do get up here - bring your C/C boats- one word - striper fishing! those types of boats are extremely popular now. :D
 
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