EPA emergency response personnel are working in partnership with FEMA to help assess the damage and prepare for cleanup from Katrina. In emergency situations such as this, under the National Response Plan, EPA serves as the primary agency for coordinating the federal response to releases of oil and hazardous materials. Our national and regional Emergency Operations Centers are activated 24 hours a day.

Public Advisory – On 9/14, EPA released a public advisory warning of potential environmental health hazards when returning to homes and businesses after Hurricane Katrina.

Response to Releases -- To date, EPA and Coast Guard have jointly received 396 notifications from the National Response Center (NRC) of potential oil and hazardous substance releases. The NRC has a searchable database to look up reports by city, state, and date. The Web site is www.nrc.uscg.mil. The breakdown by state is:
Alabama - 36
Louisiana - 332
Mississippi - 28

However, EPA is not waiting for facilities to report incidents. Instead, the Agency is proactively sending out teams and performing overflights. More than 282 emergency responses for hazardous materials releases have been conducted by EPA and Coast Guard in Region 4. Thus far, 605 sites have been assessed and 164 response actions have been taken in Region 6.

Response to Oil Spills -- There have been 5 major oil spills in the New Orleans area to date. EPA continues to assess the situations as it becomes aware. On 9/12, EPA sampling teams collected 3 sediment environmental samples and the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) bus conducted air sampling at the Murphy oil spill area.

Debris Assessment and Collection -- EPA teams continue collection of household hazardous wastes and orphan containers. In addition, EPA personnel continue to offer technical assistance in the disposal of hazardous waste and other debris left behind by the storm. EPA has recovered more than 4000 orphan containers, including 4 chlorine tanks.

Drinking Water Assessment – EPA continues assessment of damage to local drinking systems and providing technical assistance to help restore service in AL, MS, and LA. Many systems were disabled or impaired by loss of electrical power, and some are now operating under boiled water notices. In Louisiana, EPA sent teams to conduct drinking water assessments and provide technical assistance. To date, they have conducted 28 drinking water assessments and provided technical assistance at 14 public water systems. A total of 476 systems have been logged to date. In Mississippi and Alabama, EPA is providing technical assistance to states and localities as well as conducting resource needs analyses. The total number of systems that remain under a boil water advisory, are not operating, or are awaiting further information is estimated to be: 1 in AL, 391 in MS, and 281 in southeastern in LA. EPA has 2 mobile laboratories in MS and 2 in LA.

Air Surveillance – In coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, EPA's airplane ASPECT has flown 15 flights to obtain environmental screening data. These compounds were not found to be at levels exceeding OSHA standards with one exception. In this instance, the detection was reported to EPA responders on the ground. The responders located the source, a 55-gallon drum containing 4 inches of Chloro Acetic Acid. The drum was secured by EPA response personnel. On 9/14, the results were posted on the Web site.

Flood Water Analysis -- On 9/14, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, EPA posted flood water sampling data for chemicals from 9/4-6. The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy. Hexavalent chromium and arsenic, in addition to lead which was previously detected on 9/3, were detected at levels which exceeded EPA drinking water standards. These compounds would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of flood water a day. Long-term exposure (a year or longer) to arsenic would be required before health effects would be expected to occur. Thallium was detected at one sampling location and while levels are slightly elevated, they are 10 times lower than levels at which there would be a health effect.

The 9/5 data is currently undergoing review and validation. The data will be released once this process is complete.

Flood water sampling data for biological pathogens from 9/6-10 have also been posted for public review. E. coli levels are still greatly elevated and remain much higher than EPA’s recommended levels for contact. The public and emergency responders should continue to avoid contact with flood water when possible. If contact occurs, EPA strongly advises the use of soap and water to clean areas if available.

Superfund Sites: On 9/13, EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) sent teams to conduct in-depth reconnaissance at the four accessible National Priority list sites in New Orleans. EPA will do an overflight assessment of the 5th site, since it is currently under water. EPA also plans assessment of three sites on the Non National Priorities List.