Regulators Target Illegal New Orleans Dumping

By Advocate staff report

State and federal environmental regulators say they cracked down on illegal dumping in the New Orleans East area last week, inspecting 49 sites and citing two trash haulers.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality documented possible violations involving solid waste, hazardous waste, water quality and asbestos, a Thursday news release says. Those who violate environmental regulations face fines and others will face possible criminal action, the release says.

“There is no other illegal dumping site like this in the state,” DEQ Assistant Secretary Harold Leggett said.

During the week of March 19, DEQ surveillance staff flew over the area known as the Almonaster-Gentilly corridor that runs between Interstate 10 and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.

New Orleans police officers and DEQ personnel worked together to nab two trash haulers for illegally dumping waste at unpermitted sites and to seize their vehicles, DEQ officials said.

DEQ brought in staff from across the state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6 supplied staff from its Dallas office to conduct a property-to-property search on a large portion of the area March 22 and March 23.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also participated in an effort to locate wetlands violations.

Armed with new property owner information supplied by New Orleans, DEQ can inform area property owners they are responsible for cleaning up any illegal waste on their property.

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