The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Smitty's Supply Inc. to clean up its facility in Roseland, Louisiana, after a fire on Aug. 22. The company will also cover some of the federal costs tied to the response.
The EPA will continue overseeing the cleanup of the nearby Tangipahoa River and ponds. The state of Louisiana will lead that effort, using federal funds from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
Smitty's withdrew from cleanup operations earlier due to financial issues. The EPA stepped in on Aug. 24 and has since removed more than 7 million gallons of waste from the river and ponds, recovered 11 million gallons of liquid waste, and laid over 22,000 feet of containment boom. Officials have also met with more than 2,200 residents to hear concerns.
"EPA has been here from Day 1, working tirelessly to protect the communities in Tangipahoa Parish impacted by the fire," said EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason. He said the EPA worked side by side with state, parish and federal partners to make strong progress and that they will stay in Tangipahoa Parish to make sure Smitty's Supply finishes the cleanup as agreed.
Under the new agreement, Smitty's must remove hazardous materials, manage storage containers and prevent further contamination. The company must submit a final report within 30 days of finishing the work. If it fails to meet requirements, the EPA will take over again.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will lead the state's cleanup, with Tangipahoa Parish serving as the local coordinator.
The fire involved above-ground tanks and led to a brief evacuation.
For updates, photos and sampling results, click here.