VT Halter Marine Faces Environmental Fines

VT Halter Marine will pay a nearly $145,000 civil fine for violations, including allowing sand blasting particles and paint to become airborne. These particles have been floating into a Bayou Casotte subdivision, where residents attribute health issues to the pollution. Locals are glad to see the fine, but still hope more will be done.

Barbara Weckesser, Cherokee Concerned Citizens President, says, “Within the fine, I hope the fine wakes up our city and county officials to realize that Cherokee Forest did have a major problem and it’s still ongoing. It hasn’t stopped. It’s gotten better, but it hasn’t stopped.”

Neighborhood residents say they fear once the weather gets nicer and these refineries start producing more, the same problems will start up again.