The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality reports that it is responding to an engine oil spill in the Tangipahoa River. Viewers contacted WDSU on Friday afternoon and shared photos and videos showing an oily sheen on the surface of the river and in a ditch that leads to the river. A DEQ spokesperson identified the source of the oil as being the Smitty’s Supply facility in Roseland. The manufacturing, storage and packaging site processes a variety of petroleum products. The amount of the oil spill was not yet known, said Greg Langley, DEQ press secretary. A containment dam was placed in the Tangipahoa River near Independence, where a rainbow was visible over the water during the day. An additional dam has been placed where the Smitty’s Supply site’s outlet ditch meets the river, Langley said. Clean-up efforts were halted at 6 p.m. Friday, and the DEQ will use a drone camera and an airboat on Saturday to see if additional oil needs to be removed, he added. Smitty’s Supply has contracted with Oil Mop. Inc. to clean up the spill, according to DEQ.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality reports that it is responding to an engine oil spill in the Tangipahoa River. Viewers reached out to WDSU on Friday afternoon and shared photos and videos showing an oily sheen on the surface of the river and in a ditch that leads to the river.
A DEQ spokesperson identified the source of the oil as the Smitty’s Supply facility in Roseland. The manufacturing, storage and packaging site processes a variety of petroleum products. The amount of the oil spill was not yet known, said Greg Langley, DEQ press secretary.
A containment dam was placed in the Tangipahoa River near Independence where a rainbow was visible over the water during the day. An additional dam has been placed where the Smitty’s Supply site’s outlet ditch meets the river, Langley said.
Clean-up efforts were halted at 6 p.m. Friday, and the DEQ will use a drone camera and an airboat on Saturday to see if additional oil needs to be removed, he added.
Smitty’s Supply contracted with Oil Mop Inc. to clean up the spill, according to DEQ.
