OAKDALE — Residents of the Cypress Creek Community, just northeast of Oakdale, want environmental officials to do something about strong odors coming from a local food flavor manufacturer.

Betty Stockman, who lives about a half mile from Natural Advantage, said residents have been fighting environmental officials over the health and safety issues for nearly seven years. Most of the complaints have been over odor issues, which residents say have made them sick.

“In the last three years, I have been calling the Department of Environmental Quality districts in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge and the Environmental Protection Agency almost on a weekly basis and it is always excuses,” Stockman said.

“There is all kinda stuff going on there or has been going on there that needs to be investigated. A lot of people have told me stuff, but won’t put it in writing.”

Natural Advantage regulatory manager Justin Fontenot declined to comment on the complaints when contacted by the American Press.

Natural Advantage researches and develops food additives for flavoring, according to its website. It is a producer of natural, Kosher flavor ingredients for the food, beverage and flavor industry.

Both the DEQ and EPA say there have been recurrent odor complaints alleged against the facility, but no violations of health or safety standards have been found.

“There has been an ongoing pattern of odor complaints, but because something smells bad doesn’t mean it’s a health problem,” said Greg Langley,  a spokesman for the DEQ’s Baton Rouge office.

DEQ officials have conducted numerous air monitoring and sampling in the vicinity – including one in August 2013, but “none of the compounds detected in the air were present at levels that exceeded short-term health-based guidelines,” he said.

Air permits are not necessary because the company meets the exemption of air quality permitting regulations, he said.

Natural Advantage has a comprehensive incident and complaint history dating back to June 2003, according to DEQ records viewed by the American Press.

Most of the reports concerned strong odors and water discharge concerns, including reports of a green color flow in a ditch with odor last May.

The company was cited in January 2004 for unauthorized discharges, failure to apply for a permit and failure to make a hazardous waste determination.

In May and October 2012, it was cited for not properly disposing of sludge.

The company was also cited in 2002 for illegally dumping hazardous materials, but the problem was corrected.

It was recently cited for several safety and health violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an investigation into a chemical fire that injured an employee in August.

Stockman said she has contacted the Allen Parish Police Jury but was told the company was “generating business for the area.”

“There is no ordinance outside the city limits,” she said. “They came in and put the plant in without bringing it before the Police Jury or residents and now it (facility) keeps getting bigger and bigger and the problems get worse.”

She estimates that 85 percent of the residents lived in the area before the plant was built about 10 years ago, just off La. 10.

But problems did not begin until about five years ago, she said.

“Three years ago the smell was almost unbearable,” she said. “It has gotten better.”

Sixteen residents who live in the area have signed a petition voicing their concerns for the toxic chemical smells coming from the facility and the fact that it was put there without their knowledge.

The facility consists of several small metal buildings scattered across about 10-acres of land which includes a pond.

She said most residents are concerned about strong odors coming from he facility and a nearby wooded area where residents have reported hearing heavy equipment and seeing fires burning. Residents have also reported seeing trucks carrying big blue barrels.

“The smell has got to where it makes you sick to go outside,” she said. “Although, the odor is not as bad as it used to be, it is sill bad.”

She said most of the odor problems occurred on weekdays in the past, but now the problems seem to occur on weekends and at nights. Wind directions make it stronger at times, she said.

Stockman describes the odor as an acid-like smell. DEQ officials have noted the presence of strong, pungent odors during inspections, according to records.

Stockman and her husband, Tommy, say the smell makes them nauseated and makes their throat, eyes and nose burning. Other residents have reported health-related issues she fears may be linked to the facility.

The group is also concerned about the potential for contamination of water supply.

“My concern is for the health of me and my neighbors,” she said. “It (health problems) might not show up now, but maybe later on.”

Stockman said heavy trucks going to and from the facility are also tearing up Cypress Creek Road.

“We’ve got huge holes,” she said, adding that the company should pay for the repairs.Oakdale-map