Spill cleanup to continue through next week, EPA rep says

EPA officials expect the cleanup of Monday’s oil spill on Bayou Teche to continue through next week in a coordinated effort of both state and federal agencies, an EPA spokesman said this morning.
A unified command composed of the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and PSC Industrial Outsourcing continue to respond to an oil spill affecting Bayou Teche near Charenton, EPA spokesman Joe Hubbard said.
Other agencies supporting the response include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Hubbard said.
An estimated 12,558 gallons of crude oil escaped containment during a transfer at PSC Industrial Outsourcing, a Tuesday Coast Guard release said.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Traci Landry said the affected section of Bayou Teche between the Adeline Bridge and Sorrel Bridge will remain closed until further notice.
On Monday evening, sheriff’s office deputies responded to a chemical spill in Bayou Teche near the Adeline Bridge. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of a substance in the water at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
The crude oil entered Bayou Teche and headed east towards Charenton, a Coast Guard release said. American Pollution Control Corp. is the contracted oil spill response organization. Officials deployed roughly 3,000 to 4,000 feet of 18-inch hard boom, the release said. Shore to shore hard boom with sorbent boom was placed on the east and west boundaries of the affected area, the Coast Guard said.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Morgan City received a call around 6 p.m. Monday from PSC Industrial Outsourcing reporting an unknown amount of crude oil spilled into Bayou Teche. The reporting source stated a tank was being filled with crude oil when the incident occurred, the Coast Guard said.
Air monitoring was conducted at the spill site and a roving patrol is conducting air monitoring in the local community, the Coast Guard stated.
Water plants along the Teche have been notified. Oil boom is in place to contain the spill. Road traffic on La. 87 and water vessel traffic east and west of the spill area is being restricted at this time.
As a safety precaution Monday, the sheriff’s office advised area residents to shelter in place. On Tuesday morning, Louisiana State Police Haz Mat evaluated the situation and lifted the shelter in place advisory for residents and La. 87 was reopened, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The Daily Review left a phone message with PSC’s headquarters in Houston but had not received a call back as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
On Facebook, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office posted a community hotline phone number for PSC Industrial Services. Anyone with concerns about the oil spill is asked to call 800-726-1300. Operators will collect necessary information and appropriate resources will respond to any concerns.