LCG sues to recoup $1 million spent fighting 2021 waste tire fire at Scott landfill

Jan. 25—Lafayette Consolidated Government hasn't been reimbursed for $1.2 million taxpayers spent extinguishing an underground fire at a privately-owned Scott landfill a year ago.

Mayor-President Josh Guillory declared a state of emergency Dec. 24, 2021, over an underground fire at the Scott Construction Dump on Gene Road that had been reported burning since around Dec. 3, prompting complaints from nearby residents of noxious odors and smoke.

The fire, which may have been burning underground for months or years, was fueled by waste tire chips used in constructing and reinforcing parts of the landfill, which had not accepted new waste in years.

LCG got involved in extinguishing the fire after what they called a slow response by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, which permits and oversees such facilities.

In November, LCG filed a lawsuit to recover its costs, noting representatives with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said they would help recoup Lafayette's costs but have not done so.

LDEQ Press Secretary Gregory Langley, in an email response Monday, said LCG has not submitted any request for reimbursement.

A public records request to LCG for requests for reimbursement or records of reimbursement from LDEQ turned up nothing, Michael Hebert, assistant city-parish attorney, said.

LCG is not suing the state. It is suing the landfill owner and operator, property owner, tire chip supplier and their insurance providers.

Among those named in the lawsuit are Scott Construction Dump; Shannon Elliott of Sunset, vice president and permit holder for Scott Construction Dump; Mary Bundrick of Lafayette Parish, property owner listed as responsible official in LDEQ documents; Karlen Short of Lafayette Parish, Scott Construction operations manager; and Colt, which provided the waste tire chips.

In a February 2022 interview with The Acadiana Advocate, Langley said discussions were underway as to whether the company owners were providing financial assistance for LCG's response to the fire. He also said LDEQ would assist in recovering the funds.

An attorney for the landfill owners, Colt and Bundrick, said in a Dec. 7, 2021, letter to LDEQ they don't have the money to address the problem and would require financial assistance.

In the lawsuit filed Nov. 28, LCG does not specify the amount of money it is seeking.

___

(c)2023 The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.

Visit The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La. at www.theadvocate.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.