Federal environmental officials received two reports of an oil sheen threatening Lake Pontchartrain — possibly from the Smitty's Supply fire in August — but say they haven't found oily runoff that far downstream from the devastated plant in northern Tangipahoa Parish.

The reports on Wednesday and Saturday came from other government agencies observing the river and lake, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials said.

In the most recent report, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality officials Saturday reported seeing weathered oil along the lower Tangipahoa River near its mouth and below a key protective boom at Lee's Landing south of Ponchatoula.

"EPA sent reconnaissance teams down-river to investigate. Fortunately, no pockets of oily product were found, but out of caution,

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