EPA Response Activity - September 30

Air Screening Data - EPA posted ASPECT air screening data from flyovers conducted on 9/25 to assess chemical and petroleum facilities near Beaumont and Freeport, TX. Sampling efforts resulted in chemicals detected at or below the instrument's ability to accurately detect the chemicals and these results do not demonstrate an immediate health effect to the public. Results can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/air/aspect.html

Mobile Labs – EPA has set up two bacteriological analyses mobile labs to test drinking water in Louisiana.

Sampling – On 9/29, sampling continued on sediment and outfall and surface water in New Orleans. EPA also sampled water in the Back Bay of Biloxi, MS. EPA’s soil/sediment sampling in affected areas along the Gulf Coast is now scheduled to begin 10/3.

National Priorities List – EPA teams continue to assess National Priorities List (NPL) sites in the area affected by Rita. Twenty seven of the 28 TX sites have been assessed. Five NPL sites will be assessed in Louisiana. There are 15* NPL sites in the hurricane Katrina-affected area of LA, 6 in AL and 3 in MS. Initial assessments have been conducted on these sites. EPA is still in the assessment phase, and will continue to monitor all the impacted NPL sites. Water and sediment samples have been collected at the Agriculture Street site.

*In previous updates, one additional “NPL Equivalent” site was included in the Louisiana NPL total.

Fuel Waivers – On 9/27, EPA issued waivers for certain diesel and gasoline requirements for affected areas across the country to minimize or prevent fuel supply disruptions resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These waivers will help address fuel supply problems by increasing the types of fuel that can be sold in those areas:

• EPA granted a second waiver to allow conventional gasoline (CG) to be distributed to terminals for the Houston-Galveston reformulated gasoline (RFG) covered area and Dallas-Fort Worth RFG area through midnight on 10/20. Also, EPA waived the low emission diesel requirements in the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP), consistent with a state waiver of its standards, delaying the start of the program for 20 days, until 10/21.
• EPA granted a fourth waiver to allow CG to be distributed to terminals for the Richmond, Va. RFG covered area through midnight on 10/20.
• EPA granted a waiver to allow CG to be distributed to terminals for the St. Louis RFG covered area through midnight on 10/7.
• EPA issued a second waiver of the low sulfur requirements in the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Atlanta area for gasoline produced through midnight on 10/25.
• EPA issued a second waiver of the gasoline REID vapor pressure (RVP) requirements in the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) for gasoline produced through midnight on 10/24.

EPA and the Department of Energy will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with state and local governments to evaluate and respond to changing circumstances.

Drinking Water Assessment -- In LA, there are a total of 1591 drinking water facilities that served approximately 5 million people. As of 9/29, EPA has determined that 378 of these facilities are operational, 80 are operating on a boil water notice, 32 are not operating, and further information is being gathered on 1101 (most of these facilities are in unaffected areas). In MS, there are a total of 1,368 drinking water facilities that served approximately 3.2 million people. EPA has determined that 1,253 of these facilities are operational, 79 are operating on a boil water notice and 36 are inoperable. MS has contacted all facilities to verify status. It should be noted that operational facilities may still be in need of repair or reconstruction. EPA’s Water program is continuing to assess all drinking water plants in the affected area.

Wastewater -- In the LA affected area, there are a total of 173 Public Owned Treatment Works (POTW). As of 9/29, EPA has determined that 140 of these facilities are operational and 33 facilities are either not operating or their status is unknown. In the MS affected area, there are a total of 118 POTW. EPA has determined that 114 of these facilities are operational and 4 facilities are either not operating or their status is unknown. In the AL affected area, 7 facilities are operating and 1 is not operating. It should be noted that operational facilities may still be in need of repair or reconstruction. EPA’s Water program continues to assess wastewater treatment plants in the affected area.