Environmental Update Archives

– In response to the heavy rainfall that occurred over the past month, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has prepared for rising water levels along the Red River, Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River throughout the state.

United States Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, announced that WALTER OIL & GAS COMPANY, a Texas corporation residing in Houston, Texas, pled guilty today to a one-count Bill of Information which charged the company with failing to provide notification to the National Response Center of a hazardous discharge, in violation of Title 33, United States Code, Section 1321(b)(5)(C). This charge relates to WALTER OIL & GAS COMPANY’s oil and gas production in the Grand Isle area of the Gulf of Mexico.

In May, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of New Iberia celebrated the completion of a Brownfields and Ready for Reuse project for the Timeless Treasures site in New Iberia. Plaques were awarded to the city of New Iberia and the Brownfields participants in the remediation: Acadiana Regional Development, KourCo Environmental Services, Inc., Leaaf Environmental and Berard Habetz & Associates, Inc. A Ready for Reuse determination letter and certificate signifying that the land has been cleaned and can be put back into use was presented to New Iberia Mayor Hilda Daigre Curry.

EnviroFlash, DEQ's free automatic notification system, delivers air quality information to you in a timely and convenient manner. Since May is Air Quality Awareness Month and the start of ozone season, knowing the air quality is important in planning your activities. Through EnviroFlash, information is available to you on a daily basis or on demand.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the Baton Rouge area is currently attaining the 2008 8-hour ozone standard. The determination is based on a recent review of air quality data from 2011-2013. The State has decreased ground-level ozone in Baton Rouge which improved air quality and human health for more than 800,000 residents.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality signed the Cooperative Agreement for Remedial Action for Bayou d'Inde in the Calcasieu Estuary. The agreement was also signed by the other participating parties: Citgo, PPG, Axiall, Occidental Chemical Corporation and Oxy USA, Inc.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality reports that algal blooms and current high temperatures may cause fish kills, odors and an increase in water discoloration in Louisiana waterways. Lake Verret is one of the water bodies reported to DEQ for discolored water. Concerns have also been expressed about the lake's salinity.