Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Dallas, Texas (Oct. 8, 2025) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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:
- 9,955,533 gallons of liquid wastes recovered
- 6,784,000 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal
- 22,400 feet of containment boom laid
- 4,754 bales of sorbent material
- Over 275 EPA and contractor personnel deployed **due to unsafe conditions after rainfall, EPA contractor crews working river cleanup had to pause operations for today**
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; deployed boom and sorbent material in ponds and the Tangipahoa River to capture contaminated runoff; and increased the recovery rate of oily material. EPA is also 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 appreciates the continued coordination and response efforts of our state and local partners and the cooperation of residents as our recovery efforts continue.
Cleanup Operations
EPA’s cleanup operations in the Tangipahoa River are focused on flushing oily waste in the river downstream to established collection points where it is removed and placed in containers for disposal. At the ponds, crews are working 24 hours a day to contain and recover oily wastes.
EPA has increased the rate of oil recovery with new equipment, including six drum skimmers, rope skimmers, and five marsh buggies.
EPA crews at the Smitty’s Supply response have been working to manage recent significant rainfall, including installing stormwater control measures, fortifying ditches, and building underflow dams to prevent material from reaching the river. The plan included a controlled release of stormwater from the Smitty’s Supply facility to move across the road and into the ponds adjacent to the site. EPA operations crews confirmed runoff was contained to the ponds and did not reach the Tangipahoa River.
EPA response crews are aware of a reported sheen around the mouth of the Tangipahoa River and into Lake Pontchartrain. The Coast Guard has recommended EPA responders halt work on the river due to dangerous conditions from recent rainfall. EPA and the Coast Guard will investigate the reported sheen as soon as conditions improve, allowing operations to resume.
For the safety of residents and response crews, operations at the facility and ponds require Highway 51 near the Smitty’s facility to remain closed to allow the safe movement of trucks, rigs, frac tanks, and other large equipment. EPA appreciates the continued understanding and patience of residents in observing this important safety measure.
Community Engagement
EPA has met with close to 1,000 community members and answered their questions at regular office hours and events. Residents are invited to continue engaging with our response staff at the upcoming events listed below.
Community Office Hours:
- Amite Senior Center: Thursday, October 9, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Amite Public Library: Thursday, October 9, 10 am – 1 pm
- Amite Community Center: Thursday, October 9, 2 pm – 5:30 pm
- Roseland Dollar General: Thursday, October 9, 10 am – 5:30 pm
- Ponchatoula Public Library: Friday, October 10, 9 am – 12:30 pm
- Roseland Dollar General: Friday, October 10, 10 am – 5:30 pm
- Loranger High School football game: Friday, October 10, 6 – 7:30 pm
- Hammond Northshore Regional Air Show: Saturday, October 11, 8 am – 5 pm
- Roseland Dollar General: Saturday, October 11, 10 am – 5:30 pm
- Hammond Northshore Regional Air Show: Sunday, October 12, 8 am – 5 pm
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. Environmental Protection Agency: Daily Smitty’s Supply Fire Response Update ⤵️ For more information: https://spgv.io/6180BgR6.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: In close coordination with state and local partners, EPA crews continue to work tirelessly to protect human health and the environment for all residents following the Smitty Supply Fire. For updates, click here: https://spgv.io/6189BgVh.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: EPA’s leading response efforts continue to carefully and efficiently remove millions of gallons of contaminated material from the surrounding area so that Roseland residents are kept safe. Read more updates here: https://spgv.io/6182Bgb8.
X:
@EPA: Daily Smitty’s Supply Fire Response Update. For more information: https://spgv.io/6019Bguh.
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST.
@EPA: In close coordination with state and local partners, EPA crews continue to work tirelessly to protect human health and the environment for all residents following the Smitty Supply Fire. For updates, click here: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire.
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST.
@EPA: EPA’s leading response efforts continue to carefully and efficiently remove millions of gallons of contaminated material from the surrounding area so that Roseland residents are kept safe. Read more updates here: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire.
CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOST.
Media Availability
For interview requests or to coordinate site visits, contact Jennah Durant at durant.jennah@epa.gov.