Bayou sinkhole 380 feet deep: Mandatory evacuation remains, anxiety increases

Bayou sinkhole 380 feet deep: Mandatory evacuation remains, anxiety increases by Deboarah Dupre, August 6, 2012, examiner
Only 1,400 feet from the sinkhole there is a butane storage facility, according to Sheriff Mike Waguespack. “If something were to shear that well head, it would cause a very serious situation,” Waguespack said. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials have admitted that serious situation could occur. They told Assumption Parish Police Jury President Martin “Marty” Triche this weekend that the slurry area “could quickly enlarge, possibly sheer off nearby (oil) wellheads, and release harmful gases.” Already, residents have smelled a strong “diesel odor” and have experienced early signs of gas poisoning, such as eyes and throat burning, also indicating a possibly serious human rights violation. Landry and other Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou residents say what they really want now are answers about the cause of the sinkhole and mysterious bubbling. The Department of Environmental Quality has not helped in that regard. It stopped providing its monitoring data after finding no threat, as this author reported Saturday, August 4: “’Continuous monitoring continues to show NO threat to residents in the area of the bubbling waterways,’ the Assumption Parish Louisiana Emergency Self Registration Portal stated. ‘Due to the fact that the monitors haven’t showed any changes, data will no longer be posted on this site.'”