Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré was back on the front lines yesterday, this time marching alongside Roseland residents who say they are still living with the aftermath of last summer’s explosion at a nearby petrochemical site. Neighbors describe oily soot and black residue from the blaze coating yards, ponds and stretches of U.S. Highway 51 near the plant, and say they have waited too long for straight answers from regulators.
Organizers framed the march as a peaceful public health protest built around transparency and accountability. They called for environmental testing, cleanup work and stronger protections for children and families, as reported by WWLTV. The station reports that Honoré joined neighbors in Roseland on Saturday and that residents remain worried about contamination and access to safe water.
Lab reports show 'forever chemicals' in stormwater
State lab reports released in March found that stormwater discharges from the Smitty’s Supply site contained at least two dozen PFAS compounds. One sample measured perfluorooctane sulfonic acid at roughly 13,000 parts per trillion, a level far above EPA drinking water guidance, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. The outlet also notes that cleanup crews have recovered millions of gallons of oily liquids and contaminated materials, and that LDEQ, the EPA Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are involved in ongoing probes.
Residents say cleanup still unfinished
Many residents told reporters that official outreach has felt piecemeal and insufficient, with lingering questions about long term health risks and testing for private wells. Protesters highlighted the continued closure of parts of U.S. Highway 51 and complained that EPA “office hours” left them with few concrete answers, according to WBRZ and WAFB. For neighbors who have been living with roadblocks and residue for months, that lack of clarity has only fueled frustration.
Officials, enforcement and legal fallout
Federal and state agencies say they are investigating the site. The Louisiana Illuminator reports that LDEQ, the EPA Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are reviewing lab data and cleanup logs while crews continue to pull large volumes of contaminated material from the property. Neighbors have also taken their fight to court. A Roseland farmer filed suit in state court over property and livestock damage tied to the Aug. 22, 2025 blast, according to New Orleans CityBusiness. WWLTV also reported that the EPA ordered Smitty’s Supply to address hazardous waste violations nearly five months after the explosion.
Why Honoré's presence matters
Honoré, who leads the Green Army and has long pressed for accountability in Louisiana’s petrochemical corridor, brought name recognition and political pressure to a small rural protest. His involvement often signals that local environmental fights are about to get louder at the Capitol, according to reporting on his advocacy. His appearance in Tangipahoa Parish underscored how this contamination fight has drawn scrutiny well beyond Roseland, as noted by PBS NewsHour.
Organizers say they plan to keep pushing for on the ground testing, clearer health guidance and faster cleanup timelines as regulators continue sampling and legal cases move forward. Environmental reporters have warned that oily runoff and PFAS at the site can flow downstream toward Lake Pontchartrain, complicating long term risk and recovery, as documented by The Lens. In other words, residents see this not just as a neighborhood nuisance but as a slow moving regional threat they are determined to keep in the spotlight.
