David Fotouhi, EPA Acting Deputy Administrator | https://fedsoc.org/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been leading cleanup efforts in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, for nearly two months following a fire at Smitty’s Supply, Inc. The EPA has entered into a consent order with the company, which is now responsible for the cleanup and certain costs incurred by the United States.
To date, the response has involved recovering over 7 million gallons of liquid waste and removing more than 11 million gallons for disposal. The EPA has deployed nearly 5,000 bales of sorbent material and laid over 22,000 feet of containment boom. A total of 452 personnel from the EPA and contractors have been involved in these efforts.
Significant progress includes extinguishing the fire, stabilizing the facility to prevent leaks, constructing earthen dams, setting booms to contain runoff, and deploying materials to capture contaminated runoff in ponds and the Tangipahoa River.
As of October 16, decontamination and demobilization of frac tanks are ongoing. The EPA is enhancing sampling efforts and replacing booms in the river while removing oil debris. The Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) continues to be used during operations.
Community engagement remains a priority for the EPA. Since September 12, they have met with over 2,400 community members through office hours and events. Door-to-door interactions have reached 399 residents since October 5.
For updates on cleanup progress and other information, visit their website: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire. Social media platforms such as Facebook provide additional updates about community outreach efforts in Tangipahoa Parish.
Assistant Administrator John Busterud from the Office of Land and Emergency Management recently visited Tangipahoa Parish to review cleanup operations. He emphasized the importance of an efficient and safe cleanup process during his site tour.
The EPA continues its collaboration with LDEQ and Smitty's Supply Inc., ensuring thorough cleanup following the fire incident. Photos showcasing before-and-after conditions at Smitty's Supply facility highlight ongoing progress.
For more details or interview requests regarding this matter, contact Ed Mekeel at mekeel.edward@epa.gov.
Information from this article can be found here.
