by: Joy Tessman
You can’t miss the noxious welcome smell as you drive into the small Native American/Cajun community of Grand Bois located only 3000 ft across a small strip of the St. Louis canal from what the locals refer to as ‘The Pits’. It’s been three days since the last rains and still the yards and pastures of the 300 residents stand flooded with oil laden water. In the aftermath of the Deep Water Horizon tragedy, the effects of this oil spill weigh heavily on the minds of this and all small fishing communities whose livelihood and sustenance has been tragically altered by the spill..
But here in Grand Bois – one finds that this is no ordinary community…
(c) Joy Tessman 2010
The town of Grand Bois sits a hop, skip and a jump away from one of the most toxic open waste dumps in southern Louisiana. ‘The Pits’ were dug in the early ’80′s. Since that time most all the large oil and gas companies can stake claim to helping fill these 18 olympic sized swimming pool pits that make up the waste facility. By the early 90′s, the citizens of Grand Bois had had enough of the noxious gases and ground water contamination that erupted in their town destroying the health and well being of its Native American/Cajun citizens. They spent four long years giving up family time and livelihood to shut down this waste facility that came uninvited planting itself at their back doors. They did everything by the book – but that book was closed on Aug. 16, 1998 when a settlement was reached which offered a bandage where open heart surgery was required. It is well documented that Campbell Wells, as it was called back then, had silenced these people with back handed politics, a hand picked jury and deep pockets from the oil and waste management company steering the verdict. But now, in the shadow of the Deep Horizon Spill, and under the cloak of night as the banging of heavy equipment sounds the alarm that more toxic petroleum waste is being dumped into these overflowing pits…. this sleeping giant has been awakened. Oil sheen on the water that is encroaching in their yards and up the steps of their homes has begun the drumming that is reuniting these people in a common cry to save their heath, save their homes, and save their way of life on these sacred but unrecognized tribal lands. In light of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill and the controversial use of the dispersant COREXIT 9500 they feel it is time to revisit the 1988 amendment to The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This act gave the EPA the authority to control the handling, transportation and storage of hazardous materials. In 1988 the act was amended to exclude oilfield waste and the regulations currently state that any material that is the product of the exploration and production of petroleum products, no matter how toxic these products might be, is considered non-hazardous and is designated as NOW, or “Non hazardous Oilfield Waste.” Thus any material that falls under this designation, irregardless of its actual toxicity, is non hazardous by definition and is not subject to EPA control and, more importantly, these waste materials can be placed in the open pits of Grand Bois.
On July 11, In the midst of this toxic water flooding – LDEQ, the Office of Environmental Services, drafted the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) permit prepared for U.S. Liquids of LA/ LP, and Bourge Facility. They are petitioning to discharge the ‘storm water from outside the process areas including access roads, office and maintenance shop areas, and runoff from reuse material stockpiles from a commercial facility for exploration and production wastes.’ Basically they will take untreated toxic waste water and dump it directly into the St. Louis Canal. A waterway that runs from Grand Bois to Pointe aux Chene Bourg and the Intracoastal waterway. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN. This small but vocal community is ready to rise again and fight for the legislation that should have been but never was.
The battle cry has been sounded.
(c) Joy Tessman 2010
WE THE PEOPLE
WE THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY OF GRAND BOIS DO FORMALLY AND VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THE REQUEST FOR A REPLACEMENT PERMIT AI NUMBER LA0068420, AND ACTIVITY NUMBER PER20090001 AND DEMAND A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF THIS PERMIT FOR THE LOUISIANA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (LPDES) PREPARED FOR U.S, LIQUIDS OF LA, LP, BOURG FACILITY LOCATED AT 843 BOURG/LAROSE HIGHWAY, EAST OF BOURG, AND WEST OF GRAND BOIS, IN LAFOURCHE PARISH.
WE FIND THIS REPLACEMENT PERMIT IN COMPLETE VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS TO PERSONAL HEALTH AND PROPERTY AS CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE GREATER UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FURTHERMORE, IN LIGHT OF THE HORIZON OIL SPILL AND THE RAMIFICATIONS TO OUR LIVELIHOOD AND WAY OF LIFE WE HEREBY STAND UNITED IN CONFRONTING FURTHER DISPLACE OF CONTAMINATED OIL PRODUCTS THAT POISON OUR INDIGENOUS LANDS AND THREATEN OUR VERY EXISTENCE AS THE UNITED HOUMA NATION.
SIGNED: CLARICE MOLINERE FRILOUX
