Environmental notification for residents impacted by Murphy Oil spill

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, has released on-line information on the current environmental status of approximately 6,500 property addresses potentially impacted by the Murphy Oil spill in the Meraux and Chalmette areas following Hurricane Katrina.

Property owners can visit the DEQ website, www.deq.louisiana.gov, to retrieve a notice that provides detailed information on the environmental status of their property. The properties are categorized in one of three ways: 1) was not affected by the oil spill, 2) was affected by the oil spill but meets regulatory standards and therefore is available for unrestricted future use for its intended purposes, 3) was affected by the oil spill but investigation and/or cleanup have not been completed.

DEQ and EPA recommend that each property owner retain a copy of the notice associated with their address to facilitate future real estate transactions and/or lending activities. Residents that believe their property was improperly categorized in the notice are being asked to call toll free, 1-888-367-5416.

Residents that do not have computer access can go to Global Risk Solutions, Inc., located at 2626 Charles Street, Chalmette.

The oil spill of more than 25,000 barrels of crude oil impacted an area that is more than one square mile in St. Bernard Parish. Approximately 1,800 residences and an undetermined number of buildings were affected by the spill. An above ground storage tank was reportedly lifted off its foundation by floodwaters and shifted over several feet damaging the tank and releasing more than one million gallons of oil into floodwaters. The oily floodwaters flowed into adjacent canals and the surrounding neighborhoods. Much of the oil was recovered from secondary containment and drainage canals, however the remainder entered local storm drains and nearby residential and commercial neighborhoods.

Representatives from DEQ and EPA are on site daily to ensure the cleanup proceeds according to state regulations.