Thanh Truong / WWL-TV Eyewitness News Reporter

A group in New Orleans East pleaded with officials Tuesday to have a controversial landfill shut down, voicing concerns that the landfill could destroy the recovery of their community.

WWL-TV

File photo of protests regarding the opening of a New Orleans East landfill.

To help solve the dispute, a White House representative has gotten involved.

Father Vien Nguyen and members of his Vietnamese church have refused to give up their fight against the landfill that sits about two miles from their neighborhood.

"To give it up right now is to give up our life here, our community here," said Nguyen.

Before Hurricane Katrina, more than 6,000 Vietnamese Americans lived in the neighborhood in New Orleans East. Currently, about 2,000 have returned.

Father Nguyen said that number would be growing but the landfill is stifling it.

"It is about our survival, health wise, economically." 

Nguyen said promises from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and the state’s Department of Environmental Quality to test the landfill for toxins have been broken. DEQ officials said the site is routinely checked and the construction and demolition debris going into it is non-hazardous.

"You can't find a better site to dispose of C&D in this country, the soils are suitable, it's been operated appropriately, we've got spotters," said DEQ representative Chuck Brown.

The DEQ requested Piyachat Terrell, a liaison from the White House who specializes in Asian American issues, to mediate for the two sides.

"I'm hopeful we can open dialogue, a good faith discussion on these issues of concern," said Terrell.

Officials said by keeping the landfill open, the three years it would take to clear all debris from the region would be cut in half.

Father Nguyen said the site was cutting into their recovery, but both sides agreed that they are hopeful outside help would quickly resolve the struggle.