Roseland Fights for Relief After Oil Disaster

Four months after an oil facility explosion in Roseland, Louisiana, the community remains contaminated despite a billion-dollar lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and state regulators against Smitty's Supply. Residents report that black sludge still clings to walls, roofs, and soil across more than half the town's properties.

Despite federal and state agencies ramping up their presence in October, local officials and residents are skeptical that the lawsuit will provide direct relief. Civil penalties from such lawsuits typically go to the U.S. Treasury rather than affected residents. The explosion has caused lasting health issues, killed livestock, and indefinitely closed the town's largest employer. Residents earning an average of $17,000 per year were initially told to clean up the mess themselves, with many going into debt to repair their homes.

Four months after the explosion at Smitty's Supply, the black goo continues to coat homes throughout Roseland. According to Mayor Van Showers, the substance still clings to walls, roofs, and soil on more than half of the town's properties.

The explosion sprayed the community of 1,100 residents with dozens of chemicals, including cancer-causing PFAS, or "forever chemicals." Residents have reported significant health effects:

• Respiratory irritation when spending time outdoors
• Feelings of being "drained" and "sluggish" for weeks
• Concerns about dormant health threats that could lead to cancer

Millie Simmons, a 58-year-old child care worker living less than a mile from the explosion site, experienced difficulty being outside for longer than 10 minutes without respiratory irritation. Mayor Showers continues to receive complaints that "people are still sick" and want to know when they will receive help cleaning their properties.

The U.S. Department of Justice and Louisiana environmental regulators have filed a sweeping lawsuit against Smitty's Supply, seeking more than $1 billion in fines and penalties. The government alleges that for years, the company knowingly violated safety rules and pollution permits, failing to maintain basic spill-prevention and emergency response plans.

The complaint states that millions of gallons of contaminated firefighting water, oil, and chemicals flowed off-site into ditches. However, residents remain skeptical about receiving any compensation:

• Civil penalties from federal lawsuits are generally deposited into the U.S. Treasury's general fund
• Funds are often used exclusively to fund environmental cleanup costs
• Direct support for residents is not typically provided

"As far as the lawsuit, I don't think it's going to benefit the community," said Mayor Showers. This skepticism is rooted in a broader history of environmental racism where Black and low-income communities face disproportionate burdens and are last in line for recovery.

The disaster has devastated Roseland's economy. The explosion indefinitely shuttered Smitty's Supply, the town's largest employer. Residents, who earn an average of just $17,000 per year, faced immediate financial hardship.

Initially, residents were told to clean up the mess themselves. One resident on a fixed income went over $1,000 in credit card debt to replace stained panels on her trailer. Mayor Showers, who works at a local chicken processing plant, has struggled financially throughout the clean-up process.

Environmental damage has been severe:

• At least 74 live wild animals were recovered from the disaster zone
• 59 animals had either digested the oily substance or were covered in it
• At least eight animals were found dead, including four turtles and an alligator
• Dozens of pets and livestock, including cattle and horses, were coated in residue

Many residents, including the mayor, have seen their animals die. Reports of stillborn calves underscore how deeply the contamination has seeped into daily life.

After sustained pressure from residents, federal and state agencies ramped up their presence in the disaster zone in October. Agencies canvassed the community, filed the lawsuit, and began testing wildlife for contamination. However, attorneys, residents, and local officials warn that this response is not nearly enough.

The government delegated the cleanup process entirely to the state and Smitty's Supply. While some residents reported seeing Smitty's contractors cleaning a few properties, others, including the mayor, say their claims have gone unanswered. Mayor Showers stated the company reimbursed him for just one night in a hotel after the explosion and never followed up.

In response to the lawsuit, a representative of Smitty's wrote, "Smitty's has been and remains committed to following all applicable laws and regulations, and to operating as a responsible member of the Tangipahoa Parish community." The company described the disaster as the "result of an unforeseen industrial fire" and stated they are "implementing measures to help prevent future incidents and protect our waterways and neighbors."

Despite these claims, state documents show that since the lawsuit was brought, Smitty's was caught pumping unpermitted "oily liquids" into local waterways.