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Bayou Sorrel to be Removed from Superfund List

Release Date: 6/4/1997
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

Bayou Sorrel is set to become the first federal Superfund site in Louisiana to be deleted from the National Priorities List, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in Dallas today.

The state has agreed that Bayou Sorrel, known locally as Grand River Pits, has been successfully cleaned and should be removed from the federal Superfund listing. Only the most hazardous sites are placed on the National Priorities List.

"Bayou Sorrel shows why the federal Superfund program is important to millions of Americans. Because the Superfund program works, nearby residents can rest assured that their environment is a healthy place to raise their families," EPA Regional Administrator Jane Saginaw said.

EPA and Louisiana state agencies worked together on the $20 million cleanup which was completed in 1990. Monitoring since then has confirmed its success.

"Residents' concern about the hazards at Bayou Sorrel brought national attention to the need for a federal cleanup program to help protect our environment," Ms. Saginaw said.

In 1977 and 1978 petrochemicals and wastes from the manufacture of pesticides and herbicides were dumped at the 265-acre site about 20 miles southwest of Baton Rouge. The state closed the site after a truck driver was killed by a deadly gas created when the waste he was dumping reacted with previously dumped chemicals.

Bayou Sorrel was added to the federal Superfund National Priorities List in 1983, allowing federal funds to be used to clean the site.

The public has 30 days to comment on the site's removal. After responding to any comments, the removal will be finalized.

NOTE:
Comments may be mailed to:
Mr. Verne McFarland
Community Relations Coordinator (6SF-P)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733


Information on the site is available at Bayou Sorel Superfund Site information repositories at the following locations:
U.S. EPA Region 6 Reception Area (7th Floor)
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733
(214) 665-6548


Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
7290 Bluebonnet Road, Baton Rouge, La. 70809
(504) 765-0487


Police Jury of Iberville Parish
510 Meriam, Plaquemine. La. 70765
(504) 687-5190


Iberville Parish Library
1501 J. Gerald Berret Blvd., Plaquemine, La. 70765
(504) 687-2520