Roseland residents left behind as $1 billion oil spill lawsuit offers little hope for community recovery

Four months after an oil facility explosion coated the majority-Black town of Roseland, Louisiana, with toxic sludge, residents are still waiting for meaningful help. The blast at Smitty’s Supply sent contaminated material across homes, farms, and waterways up to 50 miles away, exposing the community of 1,100 to dangerous chemicals including PFAS “forever chemicals.”

Despite a sweeping $1 billion federal lawsuit against the company, Mayor Van Showers and residents remain skeptical they’ll see any benefit. More than half the town’s properties still bear black residue on walls, roofs, and soil. Initially told to clean up themselves, many residents in this low-income community—where the average income is just $17,000—went into debt trying to repair damage. One resident spent over $1,000 replacing contaminated trailer panels.

The environmental toll continues mounting. State documents reveal 59 of 74 recovered wild animals had ingested or were covered in the oily substance, with at least eight found dead. Residents report livestock deaths and stillborn calves, while many suffer ongoing respiratory problems. Even federal lawsuit compensation rarely reaches affected communities directly, typically funding only cleanup costs rather than supporting residents.

The disaster exemplifies environmental racism that has long plagued Louisiana’s Black communities, leaving them bearing disproportionate burdens while receiving inadequate recovery support. With Smitty’s—the town’s largest employer—shuttered indefinitely and residents still unsure about water safety, Roseland faces an uncertain future as legal proceedings unfold in distant courtrooms far from the contaminated community still seeking answers and relief.