Harlan Kirgan
The St. Landry Parish Council joined Beggs area property owners in opposing a salt water disposal well proposed for a 5.5 acre site off La. 182 near the parish landfill.
The vote was unanimous and occurred with little comment at the Wednesday meeting at the Old City Market in Opelousas.
The resolution states residents in the Beggs/Garland community are opposing the disposal facility proposed by Eagle Oil, LLC, at 139109 Hwy. 182 Barn, Bunkie, and the Council is joining that opposition.
“The operation of this facility is being proposed for a period of 35 - 40 years. It is the opinion of residents in the Beggs-Garland community that such a facility will have an adverse, negative impact on the quality of life in this community,” the resolution states.
Five to seven trucks per hour are expected at facility from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m, which amounts to 105-plus trucks daily at the facility, the resolution states. The average daily disposal is forecast at 7,500 barrels or a maximum of 20,000-plus barrels.
The resolution states no analysis has been conducted on the impact of th truck traffic on highways 10 and 182 where some 76,650 trucks would be added to the traffic each year.
Environmental or other property impact studies have not been conducted on the disposal site location the resolution states.
There are no limits on where the waste can come from, the resolution states.
An application was filed in September 2017 with the Office of Conservation for a commercial injection well facility.
No representative of Eagle Oil has discussed or defended the project at a Parish Council meeting.
In other business, the Council voted Vivian Olivier as it as chairwoman and Nancy Carriere as vice chairwoman.
Olivier is the first female chairwoman of the Council and Carriere is the first female vice chairwoman.
Olivier won the post in a 8-5 over Ken Marks, who has been serving as vice chairman.
Voting for Olivier were Carriere, Olivier, Easton Shelvin, Mildred Thierry, Jerry Red, Dexter Brown, Jimmie Edwards and Timothy LeJeune.
Voting for Marks were Harold Taylor, Marks, Alvin Stelly, Ardoin and Coby Clavier.
Carriere was elected unanimously.
Olivier, of Sunset, is the District 8 Council member. She is in her first term and previously served in Sunset city and areas positions.
Olivier succeeds Jerry Red, of Opelousas, as the Council leader.
Carrriere, of Opelousas, represents District 2.