BAYOU CORNE, LA (WAFB) -
Assumption
Parish officials and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
(DOTD) are holding a public informational meeting Tuesday about roads near the giant
Louisiana sinkhole.
They'll be
addressing the LA 70 bypass and detour routes. The meeting is scheduled to
start at 6 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. It will be held at the Assumption Parish
Community Center.
Frustration,
disappointment and exhaustion seemed to overwhelm the residents of Bayou Corne
in Assumption Parish as they assembled August 3, marking the anniversary of the
sinkhole.
On August
2, Governor Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced that the state
will be suing Texas Brine for environmental damages caused by the failed Texas
Brine cavern.
Gov. Bobby
Jindal's office reported the governor stated the following:
"By
filing suit, we are staying committed to holding Texas Brine accountable for
the damage they've caused to Bayou Corne and to Louisiana. We have already
pushed for buyouts for affected residents and are undertaking a thorough review
of all of Texas Brine's permits in our state. This suit is just the next step
in making sure Texas Brine does the right thing and properly addresses the mess
it's caused."
Attorney
General Buddy Caldwell commented as well on his concerns about the safety of
Louisiana citizens is the most important.
"The
safety and welfare of our citizens is the top priority. Additionally, Louisiana
has expended significant financial resources to help the Bayou Corne and Grand
Bayou communities receive the assistance and protection they need. We are
pursuing this lawsuit to hold the appropriate parties responsible for this
tragic event," said Caldwell.
After a year,
residents said they hoped the situation would be resolved. They expressed
anger at the way they feel they have been treated. Several residents asked
why no state officials were present during the anniversary ceremony.
Unfortunately
for these residents, both parish and Texas Brine officials agree that this is
far from over. While 3D seismic surveys conducted by Texas Brine seem to
indicate that the sinkhole itself is beginning to slow and stabilize, the
recovery has focused on a new danger: natural gas gathering underneath a nearby
aquifer.
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2013 WAFB. All rights
reserved.
Source: Assumption Parish OEP
