[StBernard] Parish Awaits EPA Report on Murphy Oil Spill

[Westley Annis]

Parish Awaits EPA Report on Murphy Oil Spill 

November 2, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Parish government expects to hear shortly from EPA on long-term
environmental effects of Murphy Oil spill area.

St. Bernard Parish government expects to hear from the Environmental
Protection Agency in 7-10 days on the long-term environmental effects of a
1-million gallon oil spill at Murphy Oil USA's refinery at Meraux during
Hurricane Katrina, which affected some 2,000 homes, according to a parish
official.

David Dysart, who is heading the parish's recovery effort, said Wednesday,
Nov. 2, he expects to receive an information paper from EPA and then results
will be released to the public.

About 25,100 barrels of crude oil leaked from a Murphy Oil tank that was
moved off its foundation by the water and winds of Katrina, plant officials
have said.

The affected area, according to a map released last week by Murphy, extends
west from Jacob Drive in Chalmette. At its widest, the spill affected homes
from Magistrate Street to East St. Bernard Highway. The spill narrowed as it
traveled west to Delambert Street, where the affected area is bounded by
East Josephine and Trist streets.