On November 7, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced it had completed environmental cleanup of the Tangipahoa River following a large industrial fire and explosion at a chemical facility in August. The incident released large amounts of petrochemicals into local waterways, spreading more than 40 miles downstream. Under a consent order with U.S. EPA, chemical manufacturer and distributor Smitty’s Supply assumed responsibility for facility cleanup and additional recovery costs, while LDEQ oversaw river restoration in coordination with EPA and Tangipahoa Parish officials.
The remediation effort included containment of contaminated runoff, removal of debris, and construction of dams, ditches, and other stormwater control measures. LDEQ and U.S. EPA recovered or removed over 19 million gallons of liquid waste from the Tangipahoa River and nearby ponds, and engaged with more than 2,200 local residents at public events.
While the river is now open to the public and maritime traffic, LDEQ will continue targeted recovery operations, including water quality monitoring, to ensure long-term protection of the river and surrounding ecosystems.
For more information, see LDEQ’s press release.
