Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
DALLAS, TEXAS (October 12, 2025) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), continues to lead the cleanup of the impacted area in Roseland, Louisiana, following a fire at the Smitty’s Supply facility on August 24.
Response by the Numbers:
-10,496,703 gallons of liquid wastes recovered
-6,648,705 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal
-22,400 feet of containment boom laid
-4938 bales of sorbent material
-Over 450 EPA and contractor personnel deployed
Accomplishments to date include extinguishing the fire and stabilizing the facility to prevent leaks; installing earthen dams, booms, and rainwater collection around the site to contain runoff; deploying boom and sorbent material in ponds and the Tangipahoa River to capture contaminated runoff; and increasing the recovery rate of oily material.
EPA is continuing to conduct additional sampling of the river, ponds, and ditches in the area to increase the amount of information and data we have about the range of pollutants that are present in the water and sediment.
EPA and its partner agencies continue to engage with Smitty’s Supply to ensure the cleanup activities conducted at the facility remain efficient and complimentary of cleanup efforts in the drainage ditches, ponds, and the river.
Cleanup Operations
EPA response personnel continue to oversee the recovery of oily waste from the ditches on the perimeter of the facility and Highway 10. Impacted soil and vegetation is being removed and will be shipped off for disposal at approved, permitted disposal facilities.
EPA continues to flush the stormwater run-off channels in the facility to remove oily waste and debris. Other facility operations include the decanting of product within frac tanks – or the separation of collected oily wastes from water – and discharging the water into the ponds. Empty frac tanks are decontaminated and demobilized from the site.
Working with Our Partners
EPA and the LDEQ are jointly responding to questions and concerns submitted by the community via LDEQ's hotline. Both agencies are coordinating efforts to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent information is provided, reflecting a unified approach to addressing community needs.
Yesterday, EPA and LDEQ, with support from the United States Coast Guard, investigated a possible sheen sighting that was determined to be normal biological material. EPA continues to investigate reports of sheen in the river and Lake Pontchartrain.
Community Engagement
EPA has met with over 1,900 community members and answered their questions at regular office hours and events that have taken place since September 12. EPA is also continuing to go door-to-door to engage with residents in Roseland.
EPA has interacted with 244 residents through its door-to-door efforts since October 5.
Residents are invited to continue engaging with our response staff at the upcoming events listed below.
Community Office Hours:
-Hammond Northshore Regional Air Show: Sunday, October 12, 8 am – 5 pm
-House of the Rock Church: Sunday, October 12, 9:45 am – 11 am
Online Resources
Visit EPA's response website for regular updates, including sampling results, cleanup progress, field photos, and an interactive story map: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire.
Social Media Highlights
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X, Instagram.
Facebook:
U.S. EPA South Central Region: EPA continues on-the-ground outreach in Tangipahoa Parish, with updated times and locations for community office hours supporting residents affected by the Smitty’s Supply fire. See the times and locations for today!
For more updates please follow: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire
U.S. EPA South Central Region: On October 11, EPA received a report from Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality of oily product in the Tangipahoa River, south of Lee’s Landing. EPA sent reconnaissance teams down-river to investigate. Fortunately, no pockets of oily product were found, but out of caution, EPA deployed absorbent boom in suspected areas to catch any potential material that could travel past Lee’s Landing. Since day one, EPA has been fulfilling its mission to protect human health and the environment, and we continue to do that here in Louisiana for the Tangipahoa Parish community. Stay up to date with the latest information about the Smitty’s Supply Fire Response: www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire
X:
@EPA Region 6: EPA continues on-the-ground outreach in Tangipahoa Parish, with updated times and locations for community office hours supporting residents affected by the Smitty’s Supply fire. See the times and locations for today!
For more updates please follow: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST.
@EPA Region 6: On October 11, EPA received a report from Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality of oily product in the Tangipahoa River, south of Lee’s Landing. EPA sent reconnaissance teams down-river to investigate. Fortunately, no pockets of oily product were found, but out of caution, EPA deployed absorbent boom in suspected areas to catch any potential material that could travel past Lee’s Landing. Since day one, EPA has been fulfilling its mission to protect human health and the environment, and we continue to do that here in Louisiana for the Tangipahoa Parish community. Stay up to date with the latest information about the Smitty’s Supply Fire Response: www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire
Media Availability
For interview requests or to coordinate site visits, contact Edward Mekeel at mekeel.edward@epa.gov.