Raceland, LA – Over 100 workers continued their vigorous cleanup efforts on Sunday following a crude oil spill in Bayou Lafourche, aimed at safeguarding the area’s drinking water supply and wildlife.
Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson confirmed that, to date, the quality of drinking water remains unaffected. Nonetheless, residents and businesses from south of Louisiana Highway 182 to Port Fourchon have been advised to conserve water as a precautionary measure.
By Sunday evening, Chaisson reported that cleanup crews had recovered 20 deceased animals from the bayou, including 17 salamanders, two turtles, and one crawfish. Additionally, four ducks and three alligators were spotted covered in oil, although they could not be captured.
Residents who encounter oil-covered animals are urged to contact (832) 514-9663 rather than attempting to capture or clean them independently. To report personal or property damage related to the spill, individuals should call 833-812-0877.
The source of the oil leak has been identified as a tank at the Crescent Midstream Crude Oil Facility, located at the intersection of LA 182 and Highway 308 in Raceland. An unspecified quantity of oil leaked into a stormwater canal, subsequently flowing into Bayou Lafourche. The leak was reportedly contained on Saturday, according to a company spokesman.
Despite containment efforts, a dark sheen of crude oil remained visible along a stretch of the bayou between Highway 182 and the U.S. 90 overpass as of Sunday.
To address the spill, the cleanup operation involves 117 workers, 28 boats, seven vacuum trucks, five drum skimmers, and three wash pumps, alongside 4,300 feet of containment boom. Crews are actively pumping water from the bayou to flush oil from the vegetation along the banks into the containment boom for recovery and disposal.
Cleanup activities have been suspended at nightfall for safety reasons and will resume at dawn.
Bayou Lafourche is currently closed to boat traffic from the Highway 182 bridge to the Salt Water Control Structure in Lockport. Furthermore, the area from LA 182 to Highway 654 is restricted to aircraft, extending one mile in either direction from Bayou Lafourche. These airspace restrictions are in place to ensure safe aerial monitoring of the spill by helicopters and drones.
Residents in proximity to the spill have reported detecting an oil odor. Chaisson indicated that air quality is being monitored closely and that results have been consistently below actionable levels.
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