Independent tester raises new concerns about contamination from Smitty's Supply explosion

KENTWOOD – Nearly two months after the Smitty’s Supply explosion in Roseland, cleanup and testing are still underway.

The Environmental Protection Agency says crews are making steady progress, but an independent environmental tester is warning that toxic chemicals are still showing up downstream.

At First Baptist Church in Kentwood, nearly 100 residents gathered Saturday for the third community meeting with independent environmental tester Scott Smith, who shared his latest round of findings. His team collected new samples from the Tangipahoa River in September, samples he says show contamination continues to spread from the Smitty’s Supply site.

“We provided the community with the most recent results of what’s spreading down the Tangipahoa River, what we’re finding in ponds and its mix