Tagged: Texas Brine Co.

The Louisiana Office of Conservation has levied an additional $160,000 fine against Texas Brine Co. LLC.

Commissioner James Welsh says the fine levied Monday is for continued failure to comply with his directives for an 8-acre sinkhole and oil and methane releases in northern Assumption Parish.

Residents will hold an emergency town-hall meeting to encourage state and local officials to provide more information about the sinkhole in Assumption Parish.

John Achee Jr., a community activist, said the meeting will be held Thursday at the St. Joseph the Worker Church parish hall in Pierre Part.

Achee said residents called the meeting because of a lack of information from emergency officials and Texas Brine Co., which owns the property where the sinkhole was found.

The company believed responsible for the massive sinkhole near Bayou Corne may have to pay a fine of up to $5,000 a day if it doesn't retroactively compensate evacuated residents.

Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh said Thursday Texas Brine Co. is required by the permit issued for a brine cavern they own in the Napoleonville salt dome to provide assistance to residents if a sinkhole develops.

The Houston-based company began providing a weekly housing check of $875 to evacuated locals last week.

Locals are reporting more gas bubbles in Grand Bayou.

Officials at the Assumption Parish Police Jury said Tuesday a small bubble site was discovered near a massive sinkhole in Assumption Parish. Residents have been reporting other gas bubbles and tremors in the area for months.

The sinkhole swallowed up an acre of bald cypress trees Aug 3. It has since grown to the size of a football field.