Northshore Conifer posted on April 29, 2010 17:57
St. Tammany Parish is continuing to monitor the situation concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Ongoing air quality testing is taking place throughout the Louisiana coastal areas by the EPA, the Louisiana DEQ and the Coast Guard.
At this point, the EPA and Louisiana DEQ have determined there are no problems with air quality in any coastal areas, including St. Tammany Parish. However, citizens may smell oil in the air. If you have respiratory problems or other medical conditions, or if any smell makes you uncomfortable, officials are advising citizens to shelter in place in their homes and avoid prolonged outside contact.
The coastal area of St. Tammany Parish is not currently in the expected impact area of the spill. The Parish President and emergency officials are closely monitoring the progress of the spill in case the situation changes. We have established a plan to minimize the effect of potential oil on Lake Pontchartrain and coastal areas by blocking its path at the Rigolets and the Chef Menteur Pass. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available from the Coast Guard and state and federal agencies.