The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is investigating a new complaint involving the Chattooga County Schools Transportation Department, while Superintendent Michelle Helie says a similar complaint earlier this year was investigated and ultimately determined to be unfounded.

According to information obtained from the Georgia EPD, complaint number 118381 was received September 23 and concerns the school system’s transportation facility and bus garage at 203 Penn Street in Summerville.

The complaint alleges that drainage from the facility’s bus wash bay and maintenance “change pit” flows through a pipe to a pond located off the school system’s property.

EPD categorized the complaint’s primary concern as an oil spill and its secondary concern as a diesel-fuel spill.

However, the existence of the complaint does not mean EPD has determined that oil, diesel fuel or another pollutant has actually been discharged from the facility.

As of the EPD report generated Friday morning, September 25, the complaint remained under investigation by the agency’s Mountain District, and no violation or spill had been confirmed.

The EPD information did not identify the person who filed the complaint.

Chattooga County School Superintendent Michelle Helie told WZQZ News Monday that the new complaint is similar to another complaint filed concerning the bus barn in the spring of this year.

Helie said the City of Summerville assisted the EPD in investigating the earlier complaint, and that investigation was closed after the complaint was determined to be “unfounded.”

A new investigation will now be conducted by EPD concerning the complaint filed last week.

Helie said she expects the latest investigation to have a similar outcome.

The Penn Street facility serves as the transportation headquarters for Chattooga County Schools. The school system operates 42 buses that collectively travel more than 400,000 miles annually transporting students and supporting school activities.

At this point, the allegations contained in the September 23 complaint remain allegations under investigation. EPD has not issued a finding that the school system violated environmental regulations in connection with the new complaint.