DALLAS, TEXAS (October 15, 2025) – After leading cleanup efforts for almost two months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has entered into a consent order with Smitty’s Supply, Inc. to assume responsibility for the cleanup of the facility. EPA also announced that it has issued a Pollution Removal Funding Authorization (PRFA) to the state of Louisiana to continue cleanup efforts of the Tangipahoa River and nearby ponds under EPA oversight.
Response by the Numbers:
-11,089,449 gallons of liquid wastes recovered
-7,123,053 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal
-22,400 feet of containment boom laid
-4,955 bales of sorbent material
-Over 450 EPA and contractor personnel deployed
Accomplishments to date at the Smitty’s Supply fire response include extinguishing the fire and stabilizing the facility to prevent leaks; building earthen dams, setting 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
Cleanup operations on October 14 continued at the facility, drainage ditches, ponds, and the Tangipahoa River.
At the facility, 13 frac tanks were decontaminated and an additional 12 frac tanks were demobilized from the site.
Soil and impacted vegetation removal excavation continues in the drainage ditches along Highway 10 that were impacted by oily wastes and firefighting runoff.
Collection of oily wastes continues in the ponds. A collection point has been expanded to support additional vacuum trucks in Pond D2.
Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) continues to be the focus of EPA’s river operations.
Planned operations for October 15 include: additional decontamination and demobilization of frac tanks; continuing SCAT operations and recovering any oily waste product at established collection points; and adding more skimmers to Pond D2.
Community Engagement
EPA has met with over 2,254 community members throughout Tangipahoa Parish and answered their questions during established office hours and other events that have taken place since September 12. EPA continues to go door-to-door to engage with residents in Roseland.
EPA has interacted with 354 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 Senior Center, Thursday, October 16, 1pm – 4pm
-Amite Public Library, Thursday, October 16, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
-Vintage Market Days of Southeast Louisiana: Friday, October 17, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM,
-Vintage Market Days of Southeast Louisiana: Saturday, October 18, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
-Vintage Market Days of Southeast Louisiana: Sunday, October 19, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM