Lafourche looks to BP to fix compact track loader

With the idea of keeping oil out of Lafourche Parish’s marshes paramount on everyone’s mind, the Department of Public Works sent machinery to Fourchon Beach to assist in filling sandbags.

This process began Sunday, May 8, and lasted midway into the next week until officials discovered sandbags were not adequately keeping water out.

Unfortunately, insult was added to injury when a parish-owned and operated John Deere Compact Track Loader was damaged in the process May 13.

Department of Public Works Director Kerry Babin said the track loader was in the process of filling bags with sand when it got stuck in the mud.

He said the department attempted to remove the track loader using a backhoe, but after several unsuccessful tries, he ordered them to stop so that this piece of material wouldn’t get stuck as well.

“The National Guard at the same time had a Humvee very close to where our track loader was stuck,” said Babin. “They brought a large wrecker to remove their equipment. The Army National Guard wrecker did not remove our track loader.”

On the evening of May 13, Babin advised the department that there was nothing more it could do until it brought in more equipment.

The track loader itself was fine until Babin said a high tide came into the beach that night with it still stuck in the mud.

“During high tide, the track loader was inundated with salt water and sand,” he said. “It wasn’t until the following day at 5 p.m. that the loader was removed with the assistance of two dozers that were working on the beach belonging to a private contractor. The piece of equipment is severely damaged.”

Babin said he finds no fault or negligence in parish personnel for this incident.

“The personnel are familiar with the beach conditions. It’s simply a matter of the equipment’s weight and the operating area,” he said. “We had been operating there for three days without any incident, but at that particular time the tracks broke through the sand layer and got into the mud.”

Babin said the estimated cost to repair the track loader is $19,145, including the hydraulic centre and electrical systems only.

“We have submitted an insurance claim, so between an insurance claim and processing a claim through BP, we fully expect that we will be reimbursed for this equipment,” he explained. “If our insurance should pay for it, then at that point our insurer can pursue BP for reimbursement.”