PARISH NEWS IN BRIEF
Oil mixes with runoff from Murphy
during historic rain
Residents who live near the Murphy
Oil refinery in Meraux reported a
mirky, pungent discharge in the 20
Arpent Canal following the historic
downpours Dec. 12. Reports indicate
the discharge was an oil-water mix
'released from the refinery due to the
heavy rains.
The Louisiana Department of
Environment Quality was notified
of the issue the following morning.
Cleanup crews worked Dec. 13-14 to
remove the oily residue from the canal.
Residents reported allergic reactions to
the strong chemical smell.
The refinery is allowed to discharge
storm water during rain events, but
a spokesman for the refinery did not
immediately know why oil had mixed
with rain water.
Suzanne Kneale, a Meraux
resident who is a member of the group Councilman-at-Large Wayne Landry amounts of mold throughout the
Concerned Citizens Around Murphy, as its legislator of the year in 2009. historic St. Bernard Parish courthouse
spoke to the St. Bernard Parish Council Landry, elected to the council in on St. Bernard Highway.
Dec. 15 on the matter, insisting that the October 2008, has championed the push In order to treat and remove the
refmery identify "sustainable solutions" to build a new hospital in St. Bernard. mold, the courthouse will have to
be vacated. Parish officials are still
for coping with severe rain events. Prior to serving on the Hospital Service
Representatives from Murphy were District, Landry served as the liaison to fmalizing details for where to house
asked to give a report to the council the district. courthouse staff and activities for what
Dec. 15 but declined, citing pending After receiving the award at the could be a year-long relocation.
litigation. Murphy representatives Alliance's annual gala event, Landry The storied courthouse sat in
reported to parish officials the refinery was fast to draw attention to his fellow floodwaters for weeks after Hurricane
was in the process of implementing a . councilmen. "Everything we do is not Katrina. After the storm, the courthouse
corrective action plan. as individuals but as a group," Landry was never fully remediated for mold.
A representative from Murphy was said. The recent mold discovery came as
not available for comment.
Landry, a longtime business leader part of a lengthy planning process for
in the New Orleans area, operates a FEMA-funded renovation of the
Local group names Landry Ferncrest Manor in New Orleans East.
building. The courthouse has been the
top legislator in 2009
center of the parish's judicial system
Mold discovered at
The Alliance for Good Government, since its completion in 1939.
parish courthouse The courthouse is the work of Solis
an agency dedicated to promoting
policies and candidates for the benefit A recent mold study funded by Seifert, who also designed the state
of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the Federal Emergency Management capitol building in Baton Rouge and
recently named St. Bernard Parish Agency(FEMA )discoveredsignificant Charity Hospital in New Orleans.