Dive Brief:
- The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued an administrative order on Tuesday requiring the owners of the Shreveport landfill to stop all disposal operations at the site, revoking all legal authorizations to operate. The site can continue wood chipping and crushing concrete.
- The order was issued to the owners, Harrelson Material Management Inc., in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall’s Office. The latest order is part of a revised emergency declaration signed by Peggy Hatch, Secretary of the DEQ.
- DEQ found that the landfill failed to meet requirements of a fire mitigation plan -- conditions that were agreed upon by both parties. The State Fire Marshal and the agency will work in tandem to extinguish the fire, as Harrelson Materials does not have the staff or equipment to put out the fire themselves.
Dive Insight:
The landfill accepts construction and demolition debris. Fires have been burning at the site for years, and the DEQ has visited the site more than 25 times.The suspected cause of the flames is the disposal of fresh waste, which prompted the DEQ to issue one of many cease and desist orders in June, stating the landfill must stop accepting and disposing of new waste.
DEQ initially ordered the owners close the site in August. It was estimated that it would take up to six months to extinguish the flames.