Update: Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Update: Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

October 17, 2025

Update: Cleanup Continues in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

DALLAS, TEXAS (October 17, 2025) - After leading cleanup efforts for almost two months, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entered into a consent order with Smitty's Supply, Inc., requiring the company to take responsibility for cleanup at the facility damaged by a fire on August 22 and to pay certain response costs incurred by the United States.

Response by the Numbers  

- 7,438,221 gallons of liquid wastes recovered

- 11,286,009 gallons of liquid wastes removed for disposal

- 22,400 feet of containment boom laid  

- 4955 bales of sorbent material

- 452 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.      

Cleanup Operations

On October 16, EPA continued the decontamination and demobilization of frac tanks.

Current activities included enhancing sampling efforts, continued boom evaluation and replacement in the Tangipahoa River, and removing oil debris from the river. EPA continues to utilize the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) for operations over the weekend.

Community Office Hours 

EPA will continue to engage with community members at events and through its door-to-door efforts.

-Vintage Market Days of Southeast Louisiana: Saturday, October 18, 9am - 4pm

-Vintage Market Days of Southeast Louisiana: Sunday, October 19, 10am - 4pm

-Hammond Senior Center, Friday, October 24, 10 - 11am

Community Engagement   

EPA has met with over 2,400 community members throughout Tangipahoa Parish and answered their questions during established office hours and other events that have taken place since September 12. EPA has interacted with 399 residents through its door-to-door efforts since October 5.

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 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!

For more updates please follow: 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: Earlier this week, EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management Assistant Administrator John Busterud came down to Tangipahoa Parish for an update on cleanup operations following the Smitty's Supply fire in Roseland, LA. Assistant Administrator Busterud recognized the importance of an efficient and safe cleanup, and attended a site tour, including an aerial overview by helicopter and a tour of the Smitty's Supply facility grounds. EPA is committed to protecting public health and the environment in affected communities, and we are grateful that Assistant Administrator Busterud took the time to visit the site. 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 to work closely with LDEQ and Smitty's Supply Inc. to ensure an efficient and thorough cleanup following the Smitty's Supply fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Check out these before-and-after photos of the Smitty's Supply facility that show the progress being made after initially cleaning up the facility. EPA is committed to its mission of protecting public health and the environment and ensuring Smitty's Supply Inc. safely cleans up the facility site. 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 to work closely with LDEQ and Smitty's Supply Inc. to ensure an efficient and thorough cleanup following the Smitty's Supply fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Check out these before-and-after photos of the Smitty's Supply facility that show the progress being made after initially cleaning up the facility. EPA is committed to its mission of protecting public health and the environment and ensuring Smitty's Supply Inc. safely cleans up the facility site. 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

X:

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

CLICK HERE TO SHARE AND REPOSTExit EPA's website

@EPAregion6: Earlier this week, EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management Assistant Administrator John Busterud came down to Tangipahoa Parish for an update on cleanup operations following the Smitty's Supply fire in Roseland, LA. Assistant Administrator Busterud recognized the importance of an efficient and safe cleanup, and attended a site tour, including an aerial overview by helicopter and a tour of the Smitty's Supply facility grounds. EPA is committed to protecting public health and the environment in affected communities, and we are grateful that Assistant Administrator Busterud took the time to visit the site. 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 REPOST.Exit EPA's website

@EPAregion6: EPA continues to work closely with LDEQ and Smitty's Supply Inc. to ensure an efficient and thorough cleanup following the Smitty's Supply fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Check out these before-and-after photos of the Smitty's Supply facility that show the progress being made after initially cleaning up the facility. EPA is committed to its mission of protecting public health and the environment and ensuring Smitty's Supply Inc. safely cleans up the facility site. 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 REPOST.Exit EPA's website

@EPAregion6: Daily Smitty's Supply Fire Response Update. 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 REPOST.Exit EPA's website

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