ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. — From the front yards of homes in Meraux, that border the canal, you can hear the results of a diesel spill in St. Bernard Parish.
Propane scare cannons, which sound like gunshots but have no projectile, are being fired to scare off migratory birds that might be injured by the toxic mess.
The spill, which came from a corroded stretch of the Collins Pipeline, has already killed thousands of fish, birds, and other animals, according to the Associated Press.
Federal records show December 27th, a severely corroded 16-inch pipeline leaked and dumped 300-thousand gallons of hazardous fuel into two artificial ponds on private property.
As the AP reports, according to those records, an inspection 15 months ago found corrosion in a 22-foot section of the Collins Pipeline where the leak happened, but repairs had been delayed.
Wednesday, PBF Chalmette Refining reported to the parish that cleanup crews had recovered nearly 323,000 gallons of the hazardous fuel and will be recycling it at the refinery.
The Vice President of PBF Energy - Chalmette Refining’s owner – told the Associated Press that the line has been repaired and operations have continued.
But according to emails sent to the parish, Chalmette Refining is still working with Wildlife and Fisheries to clean, examine, and treat impacted wildlife.
They released an alligator Saturday, seen in a photo provided by the PBF Energy. But they haven’t said when cleanup will be complete, or what the long-lasting effects might be.