[StBernard] Katrina: One Year Anniversary - Environmental Protection Agency's Work

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Mon Sep 4 19:05:09 EDT 2006


Katrina: One Year Anniversary - Environmental Protection Agency's Work
04 Sep 2006

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf coast of
the southeastern United States, causing unprecedented damage from eastern
Louisiana to near Mobile, Alabama, due to the high winds and storm surge.
Over the past year, EPA has worked with Federal, State and local partners to
assist in the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To date, EPA has:

-- Conducted environmental monitoring and sampling of water, air, floodwater
and residual sediment resulting in more than 400,000 analyses

-- Responded to approximately 70 emergency situations to address chemical
spills, fires, and other emergencies causing an immediate public threat

-- Played a key role in the overall debris mission with FEMA and the Corps,
for which the total estimates are expected to top 118 million cubic yards.
EPA provided technical advice and assistance, promoted recycling, and
handled the disposal of over 4 million containers of household hazardous
waste

-- Assisted in the proper handling and recycling of over 380,000 large
appliances (refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners)

-- Collected and recycled over 661,000 electronic goods to save important
landfill space and ensure the reuse of metal components

-- Assessed approximately 4000 water systems to determine their viability
after the storms and provide assistance where requested; inspected over
3,500 potable water trucks to ensure drinkable water was delivered promptly
to areas affected by the hurricane

-- Assessed approximately 1,300 underground storage tank locations and over
1,600 chemical facilities and refineries

-- Assessed approximately 900 public and parochial school chemistry
classrooms and removed chemicals and other equipment from 130 chemistry
laboratory classrooms to ensure safe schools for returning students.

-- Continued to monitor 12 temporary ambient air monitoring sites throughout
LA

-- Continued to provide oversight of the cleanup by Murphy Oil of a large
oil spill which impacted hundreds of homes in St. Bernard Parish (Murphy has
completed the external cleanup of 1854 homes).

http://www.epa.gov
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=51059



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