ROSELAND, La. (WAFB) - The EPA's cleanup and monitoring process continues following a fire at Smitty's Supply in Roseland.
The fire happened on the afternoon of Friday, August 22, and burned across several acres of petroleum products, storage tanks, and equipment. While no injuries or fatalities were reported as a result, the impact of the incident continues.
According to the EPA, there have been more than nine million gallons of liquid waste recovered, more than six million gallons of liquid waste removed for disposal, more than 22 thousand feet of containment boom laid, and more than 415 EPA and contractor personnel deployed.
EPA officials said cleanup crews have continued to conduct sampling of the Tangipahoa River, ponds, and ditches in areas surrounding Smitty's.
The hope is for the EPA to increase the amount of information and data they have to better understand the range of pollutants that are present in water and sediment.
Highway 51 near Smitty's remains closed. This is for the safety of crews as they operate trucks, rigs, frac trucks, and other large equipment.
According to the EPA, cleanup crews are currently working to clean up oil in the Tangipahoa River and in nearby ponds. They are using new equipment, six drum skimmers, rope skimmers, and five marsh buggies.
Collection points have been established in the river to remove the oil and then place it in containers to be disposed of. In the ponds, work is taking place 24 hours a day.
There are also efforts underway at the Smitty's Supply facility to prevent more oil and waste from reaching waterways.
According to the EPA, a recent significant rainfall led the agency to put stormwater measures in place, like the fortification of ditches and the building of underflow dams. Officials acknowledged that they had to allow for a controlled release of stormwater from Smitty's to move across a road and into ponds near the site. They said the runoff did not reach the Tangipahoa River.
The EPA is holding regular office hours and events to help answer questions from members of the public. According to the agency, the following office hours are planned.
The public can also find the very latest office hours and updates by going to the EPA's response website.
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