[StBernard] Review of Data Reveals Gaps in EPA’s Oil Spill Monitoring. Agency Urged to Empower Impacted Communities to Take Samples: July 20, 2010

[Westley Annis]

Review of Data Reveals Gaps in EPA’s Oil Spill Monitoring. Agency Urged to Empower Impacted Communities to Take Samples: July 20, 2010
http://www.labucketbrigade.org/article.php?id=630 
 
	


Review of Data Reveals Gaps in EPA’s Oil Spill Monitoring
Agency Urged to Empower Impacted Communities to Take Samples


(NEW ORLEANS, La.) A new analysis of the Environmental Protection Agency’s BP oil spill air monitoring reveals that the EPA monitoring network, while unprecedented in its scope, has still fallen short of documenting exposure in Louisiana in the days since the oil spill. Meanwhile, thousands of people who are out of work could be trained to assist the EPA with its monitoring. “EPA can’t be everywhere,” said Anne Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. “But you have a lot of fishermen, oystermen and shrimpers who are out of work. They know the environment. They should be trained to help with sampling.”

The review of EPA’s sampling examined monitoring that took place from the time of the spill until July 10th. Results from benzene, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter sampling were compared to health standards. The most troubling reports were those of hydrogen sulfide in Venice as well as repeatedly high benzene readings throughout the region. The review found that sampling for particulate matter 2.5 – small airborne particles known to aggravate the respiratory system – should be enhanced. 

The report overlays maps from the Oil Spill Crisis Map onto the EPA’s fixed monitoring stations. “We have mapped EPA’s monitoring stations and compared it to odor and health complaints in the area,” continued Ms. Rolfes. “There’s a lot that EPA is not catching.” The recommendation coming from the review is to train local people to take samples. 

While LABB commends the EPA for its work thus far – and the amount of raw data available to the public on its revamped web site – the review illustrates some problems. 

One area addressed is the inconsistencies in monitoring stations and the results they produce. “The fixed monitoring sites have not been selected based on the best locations for public health but rather for reasons of convenience, such as available sources of power,” the review finds. The EPA is faulted for its statement that ozone and particulate matter levels are normal for this time of year when, in fact, there is little historical data on which to base this claim.

The full review can be found at this link  
  http://www.labucketbrigade.org/downloads/Review%20of%20EPA%20Sampling%20Data%207.20.10.pdf




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The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is an environmental health and justice organization supporting neighborhoods’ use of grassroots action to create informed, sustainable communities free from industrial pollution.