By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / June 26, 1999

LAPLACE – What port officials say was intended as an information exchange on the foul odor from the Globalplex wastewater treatment ponds turned one-sided Wednesday, as pending lawsuits closed their mouths.

For several months residents in the Dutch Bayou/Star Terrace area of Reserve say they have been sickened from the stench from the ponds, located behind the Delta Beverage facility on West 10th Street.

“Why don’t you just buy us out and compensate us for our health and livelihood?” asked resident Mary Belvin.

Complaints to the port resulted in attempts to dredge and clean the ponds.

“We have done our level best to resolve the problems,” port executive director Gary LaGrange told the group of Reserve residents who attended the Wednesday forum.

Commission president Cart Davis added, “We will be listening to everything you have to say.”An estimated 20 residents attended the forum, held at the port’s office on Belle Terre Boulevard, complaining of breathing problems, nausea and other health concerns.

“Even my dog threw up,” Feral Abadie observed.

However, with the filing of two lawsuits in recent days, port officials were hamstrung from making public comments on the situation.

The first lawsuit, filed by LaPlace attorney Daniel Becnel on June 11, is set for a class-action certification hearing on July 23 before 40th Judicial District Judge Madeline Jasmine.

That lawsuit states the odors, described as anything from raw sewage to bagasse, began at least as early as April 17. Investigation of the odordetermined its origin at the oxidation ponds used for wastewater treatment.

Claimants say they suffer from “headaches, nausea, diarrhea and rashes.”The neighborhood-wide odor also prevents them from enjoying their yards, homes, schools and community.

The claimants’ suit demands at most $75,000 for each of the claimants and describes the geographical boundary of the class definition as that portion of Reserve bounded by Central Avenue, Airline Highway, Marathon Avenue and the Mississippi River.

Another complaint lodged against the port relates to the letter of apology issued by the port to Riverside Academy and area businesses, yet no such apology was issued to area residents.

The second lawsuit, filed June 18 by Baton Rouge attorney J. GregoryMurphy, is on behalf of four adult residents of Reserve and a child.

In that suit, the claimants state: “The odors from the defendant’s facility is of such strength, character and quantity that it causes and has caused plaintiffs severe respiratory distress, including the inability to breathe, along with severe sinus stress, severe nausea and vomiting, inflammation of the eyes, asthma-like symptoms and aggravation of asthmatic conditions.”A pervasive “rotten-egg” odor is also described in the suit, which also calls for a class-action certification.

Nevertheless, at Wednesday’s forum, residents heard no comments from the commissioners. “What’s the point of all this?” Sylvia Claytonquestioned. “We’re all sick, nauseated and disgusted by you all.”Carla Watson, president of the Concerned Citizens of St. John Parish (alsoa Reserve resident), asked of long-term health risks and suggested the problem would have been solved much earlier “if you got the stench and odor in your community.”Following the forum, in the Port Commission’s regular meeting, the commission approved a $14,000 expenditure for Waste Management to dredge the ponds and $10,542 in chemicals recommended to relieve the odors.

“Do whatever it takes to clean up the problem,” commissioner Louis Joseph prompted.

Return To News Stories