News Release Archives

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality recently issued its second Notice of Potential Penalty to Stolthaven New Orleans, LLC, in Braithwaite for alleged environmental violations stemming from unauthorized discharges that occurred in late August and early September. Stolthaven failed to take the necessary precautionary measures in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac, thereby allowing for unauthorized releases to the waters of the state.

Three years ago, the Department of Environmental Quality began a program that allows for pre-approval of debris sites to help cleanup disaster debris. The purpose of this program is to assist governments in expediting debris cleanup in order to aid the citizens of the state. These sites are approved for the staging of debris and other functions such as chipping, grinding and preparation for disposal. Once the cleanup is done, any successive debris must be transported to the proper landfill.

On Sept. 18, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Department began conducting indoor air monitoring within the Bayou Corne community as a result of the ongoing sinkhole investigation in Assumption Parish and because of concerns from local citizens. To date, eight homes have been monitored with no concerns noted. Additional homes will be monitored as the rights of passage are received and citizens are contacted to set up a date and approximate time for the assessment.

The Department of Environmental Quality issued a penalty today to Stolthaven in Braithwaite for $12,189.61. The penalty was issued because the facility failed to notify DEQ of an emergency situation within one hour of the occurrence. DEQ was notified of a release of 1-octene and Ethyl Acrylate from the facility on Sept. 1. The release occurred on Aug. 30th in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac.

The Department of Environmental Quality continues to work with its state, federal and local partners to address chemical releases from the Stolthaven facility located in Braithwaite in Plaquemines Parish. The company will be required and has already begun to clean up any contamination. Louisiana State Police, DEQ and others continue to oversee the cleanup which includes the re-railing of rail cars, on site oil skimming and off-site orphaned drum recovery, which Stolthaven is financing.

Today, investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality arrested an Iberville Parish man for the alleged illegal dumping of pollutants into state waterways and the illegal disposal of solid waste.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has rescheduled the EPA Biosolids Workshop originally scheduled for September 5 in Baton Rouge. The free workshop will cover the EPA Part 503 requirements on sewage sludge. Topics include general provisions, production and use, land application, inspection issues and compliance.