Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Daily Update: EPA Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

October 13, 2025

DALLAS, TEXAS (October 13, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, continues to lead the cleanup of the impacted areas in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, following a fire at the Smitty's Supply facility on August 22.  

Response by the Numbers: 

-10,713,717 gallons of liquid wastes recovered 

-6,729,555 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal 

-22,400 feet of containment boom laid 

-4,938 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

EPA continues to flush the stormwater run-off channels in the facility to remove oily waste and debris. Decanting of frac tanks continues and decanted water was used to recharge Pond D4 on October 12.

Skimming operations continued in Ponds D1, D2, D3, and D4 and an additional staging area was built at Pond D1 to facilitate an additional recovery point.

Sediment and surface water samples continue to be collected for EPA's enhanced sampling efforts.

Community Engagement

EPA has met with 2,000 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 268 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:

-Dollar General (Amite): Monday, October 13, 10am - 1:30pm

-Dollar General (Roseland): Monday, October 13, 1:30pm - 5pm

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-fireExit EPA's website.

Social Media Highlights

Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on FacebookExit EPA's website, XExit EPA's website, InstagramExit EPA's website.

Facebook:

U.S. EPA South Central Region: EPA, in coordination with Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityExit EPA's website and Tangipahoa Parish GovernmentExit EPA's website, continues to address impacts from the Smitty's Supply fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Check out these before-and-after photos from the U.S. Highway 10 that show the progress made removing oily waste over the last month. EPA is committed to protecting public health and restoring the environment in affected communities. To stay up to date with the latest information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire.CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHARE.Exit EPA's website

U.S. EPA South Central Region: On October 10, EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityExit EPA's website, with support from the U.S. Coast Guard, investigated a reported sheen south of Lee's Landing in the Tangipahoa River and Lake Pontchartrain using aerial drone overflights.

There was no indication of sheen in the river past EPA's containment booms or on Lake Pontchartrain. EPA, the U.S Coast Guard, and LDEQ will continue to investigate reports of sheen associated with the Smitty's Supply fire response in the river and the lake.

EPA continues to work alongside state partner Louisiana Department on Environmental Quality at the Smitty's Supply Fire Response in Roseland, LA. Their partnership is instrumental in helping the Tangipahoa Parish community return to normal

EPA encourages members of the public to report any suspected sheen from oily materials by calling 800-424-8802

To stay up to date with the latest information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fireExit EPA's website

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHARE.Exit EPA's website

U.S. EPA South Central Region: EPA continues on-the-ground outreach in Tangipahoa Parish, with updated times and locations for community office hours supporting residents affected by the Smitty's Supply fire. See the times and locations for today. Stay tuned for the rest of the week's office hours coming out later today!

For more updates please follow: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fireExit EPA's website

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHAREExit EPA's website.

U.S. EPA South Central Region: EPA's response to the Smitty's fire.

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHAREExit EPA's website.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Daily Smitty's Supply Fire Response Update

For more information: spgv.io/6019B9BvExit EPA's website.

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHAREExit EPA's website.

X:

@EPAregion 6: EPA, in coordination with Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityExit EPA's website and Tangipahoa Parish GovernmentExit EPA's website, continues to address impacts from the Smitty's Supply fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Check out these before-and-after photos from the U.S. Highway 10 that show the progress made removing oily waste over the last month. EPA is committed to protecting public health and restoring the environment in affected communities. To stay up to date with the latest information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smittys-supply-fire.

CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOSTExit EPA's website.

@EPAregion6: On October 10, EPA and @louisiana_deqExit EPA's website, with support from the U.S. Coast Guard, investigated a reported sheen south of Lee's Landing in the Tangipahoa River and Lake Pontchartrain using aerial drone overflights. There was no indication of sheen in the river past EPA's containment booms or on Lake Pontchartrain. EPA, the U.S Coast Guard, and LDEQ will continue to investigate reports of sheen associated with the Smitty's Supply fire response in the river and the lake. EPA continues to work alongside state partner Louisiana Department on Environmental Quality at the Smitty's Supply Fire Response in Roseland, LA. Their partnership is instrumental in helping the Tangipahoa Parish community return to normal EPA encourages members of the public to report any suspected sheen from oily materials by calling 800-424-8802 To stay up to date with the latest information, visit: https://http://epa.gov/smittys-supply-fireExit EPA's website.

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHAREExit EPA's website.

@EPAregion6: EPA continues on-the-ground outreach in Tangipahoa Parish, with updated times and locations for community office hours supporting residents affected by the Smitty's Supply fire. See the times and locations for today. Stay tuned for the rest of the week's office hours coming out later today! For more updates please follow: https://epa.gov/smittys-supply-fireExit EPA's website

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SHAREExit EPA's website.

@EPA: Daily Smitty's Supply Fire Response Update

For more information: https://http://spgv.io/6019B9BvExit EPA's website

CLICK HERE TO READ AND REPOSTExit EPA's website.

Media Availability

For interview requests or to coordinate site visits, contact Ed Mekeel at [email protected].