Do you believe that enough has been done to preserve the ozone layer?
World Ozone Day
September 16 is World Ozone Day, or International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It is the anniversary of the day the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987.
Antarctic hole in ozone layer nears record size, U.N. Says Ozone Layer Should Keep Healing
The Antarctic hole in the ozone layer is growing rapidly and should be close to the record years of 2000 and 2003 when it peaks in a couple of weeks. The ozone layer has stopped shrinking. It could be some time before the years of pollution controls have a noticeable effect, and some countries are still using CFCs. Some scientists say it will take about 50 years before the ozone hole stops forming.
Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Friday, September 16, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
Sediment Sampling – On 9/16, EPA released preliminary results of initial sediment sampling from New Orleans and recommended avoiding all contact with the sediment, where possible, due to the presence of E. coli and fuel oils.
Gulf/Mississippi Water Sampling – EPA’s ocean vessel, the Bold, is expected to be deployed 9/26 on a mission to survey the waters of the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico in the plume of the Mississippi River . The surveys will take about three weeks to complete.
Drinking Water Assessment– In the LA affected area, there are a total of 683 drinking water facilities that served approximately 2.8 million people. EPA has determined that 498 of these facilities are operational and meeting EPA standards, 26 are operating on a boil water notice and 159 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the MS affected area, there are a total of 1,368 drinking water facilities that served approximately 3,219,690 people. EPA has determined that 1,073 of these facilities are operational and meeting EPA standards, 231 are operating on a boil water notice and 64 are either inoperable or their status is unknown. In the AL affected area, there are a total of 72 drinking water facilities that served approximately 960,682 people. EPA has determined that 71 of these facilities are operational and meeting EPA standards, 1 is operating on a boil notice.
Debris Assessment and Collection -EPA teams continue collection of household hazardous wastes (HHW) 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 collected 20,934 HHW/orphan containers throughout the affected region.
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 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.
Air Surveillance – In coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, EPA's airplane ASPECT has flown 15 flights to obtain environmental screening data. Results of this surveillance were posted on the EPA website 9/14. Compounds identified 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.
Fuel Waivers – On 9/13, EPA issued a second, temporary waiver of highway diesel fuel sulfur requirements through 10/5 for states that continue to be affected by disruptions to the fuel production and distribution system caused by Hurricane Katrina. This action will allow diesel fuel normally used in off-road equipment to be used in highway vehicles in those impacted states. The states affected by the second waiver of highway diesel requirements are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and the District of Columbia. In addition, EPA waived the federal enforceability of the summer grade gasoline required under state law in California , Eastern Texas and Phoenix , AZ. On 8/31, EPA waived the federal requirement for summer grade gasoline nationwide. Under normal circumstances that requirement ends in all parts of the country on 9/15, except for the three areas mentioned above which, under state laws, extend the requirement until 9/30 (Phoenix), 10/1 (Texas) and 10/1 (California). The three states have requested that EPA waive federal enforceability of these requirements.
Air Monitoring – 2 EPA Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) buses continue to perform air monitoring in New Orleans area.
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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 and 9/6. 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 in the water. Arsenic and lead were found 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 reconnaissance at the four accessible National Priority List (NPL) sites. In addition, EPA has done an overflight assessment of the 5 th site, since it is currently under water. EPA is also in the process of working with the states to assess 9 NPL sites in the hurricane affected areas of MS and AL.
Katrina stories
Major Developments in Katrina's Aftermath
Fish Used to Assess Environment Damage
NOAA researchers are catching fish off the Mississippi coast and testing them for environmental contaminants caused by Hurricane Katrina's storm surge and toxic floodwaters. Chemical spills, sewer overflows or other poisons will have washed into the Gulf of Mexico. They found refrigerators, televisions, power poles and other debris. Oysters appear to have avoided being buried in silt and they are being tested too. The Coast Guard believes that more than 7 million gallons of oil from industrial plants, storage depots and other facilities around southeast Louisiana may have been spilled; about two-thirds as much oil as spilled from the Exxon Valdez tanker in 1989, and more widely spread. More than 1.3 million gallons appear to have evaporated or dispersed, nearly 2 million gallons had been recovered and another 2.3 million gallons has been contained. About a quarter of the oil could pose a danger to wetlands.
Katrina May Affect U.S. Aid Abroad, Katrina Victims Getting International Aid
The U.S. Agency for International Development says that some foreign aid may be delayed while the USA struggles with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
Relief supplies are being flown into the USA from all over the world. Most comes in via Little Rock Air Force Base.
London Service Honors Katrina Victims
A memorial service was held for the victims of hurricane Katrina at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England on Friday.
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Bush: Rebuilding Must Address Inequality, Bush: New Orleans will rise again, Many Churches Heed Bush's Call for Prayer, Nation Hears Bush With Skepticism, Hope, Reaction to Bush's New Orleans Address, Highlights of Katrina Aid, Bush wants evacuees housed by mid-Oct, Bush Addresses Nation from N.O.
During a national prayer service on Friday, President Bush said, "As we clear away the debris of a hurricane, let us also clear away the legacy of inequality."
On Thursday night he promised that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast would rise again and that lessons would be learnt.
Friday was a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for victims of Hurricane Katrina
Americans had mixed feelings about President Bush's speech from New Orleans on Thursday. Some felt it was too little too late, some decided to wait and see if actions matched words, and others approved it.
President Bush's aid package includes:
First Lady: Prepare Kids for Disasters
As of noon Wednesday, 2,709 children had been reported either missing or found without caregivers, and 701 cases had been resolved. First lady Laura Bush called for all children to be taught their full names, addresses and parents' names as soon as they were old enough.
House, Senate OK Katrina Tax Relief, US House, Senate pass hurricane tax relief
On Thursday the House and Senate passed similar bills to let victims tap retirement accounts without penalty and to help working poor families and parents retain their tax credits. Senators also voted for rental housing vouchers and aid measures for small business.
Homeland Security Spent $16.8B for Relief
At least $16.8 billion for hurricane relief has been spent or committed for hurricane relief
FEMA under fire for slow Katrina aid
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, already heavily criticized for its slow response to hurricane Katrina, is now under fire for the slowness of distribution of aid to storm survivors.
FCC Giving Phone Aid for Katrina Victims
The Federal Communications Commission is to provide $211 million in aid to Hurricane Katrina victims to help restore phone service in areas hit hardest hit by the storm.
Mayor: French Quarter to Reopen Next Week
Some residents will be able to move back into New Orleans starting Monday, one zip code at a time.
Feds Plan Temporary Cities for Evacuees
The feds are planning to build dozens of temporary cities able to accommodate up to 300,000 people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Government contractors are scouting locations in each state. They need to be near existing shops and services, which could lead to tension. There are lessons to learn from Kone, Japan after the 1995 earthquake when 150,000 people needed to be housed.
Insurers Sued Over Hurricane Coverage
Mississippi 1s suing insurers, saying they should pay billions of dollars in flood damage from Hurricane Katrina, as their standard insurance polices gave homeowners the impression that they are covered for all hurricane damage, whether from high winds or storm surges.
Popeyes Chain to Rebuild After Katrina
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits had many outlets affected by hurricane Katrina, and is still trying to find out what has happened to half of its workers and to help them out.
New Orleans Mayor Temporarily Moves Family
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has rented a home for his family in Dallas, where he has relatives, for the time being. His daughter has enrolled in school there, but he intends to stay in New Orleans.
Hurricane Survivors Leave Astrodome
Thousands of hurricane survivors have been transferred from the Houston Astrodome to the neighbouring Reliant Arena, where it is more crowded, even though many evacuees had already moved on. It is hoped that many more evacuees will find somewhere to move n to soon. There are still about 3,600 in Houston's four main shelters, down from 27,100.
Reported Katrina Deaths, State by State
Death toll: Alabama 2, Florida 14, Georgia 2, Louisiana 558, Mississippi 218, total 794.
Katrina Made TV See the Underclass
For many Americans, seeing their overwhelmingly poor and black compatriots suffering on TV was an eye-opener, but there is little in the fall schedule which bears any relationship to the reality that 37 million people are living under the poverty line in the US.
Katrina Called Most Destructive U.S. Storm
Katrina is the most destructive storm to have struck the United States according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It had the fourth lowest minimum central pressure recorded, and while it did not have the strongest winds, it was considerably larger than Hurricane Camille, for example.
Other stories
Tropical Storm Ophelia crawls northward, New England Prepares for Weakened Ophelia
Tropical Storm Ophelia was heading slowly towards New England and Canada on Friday, leaving the Carolinas soaked. Residents of Hatteras Island were allowed to return.
Businesses prepare for bird flu disruptions
Many global corporations are preparing plans for remote working and stockpiling masks and antiviral medicines in preparation for the predicted bird flu epidemic. Travel would likely be restricted, and many staff would be off sick.
Canada to host big October conference on avian flu
There is to be a major international conference on avian flu in October in Canada.
U.S. Buys $100 Million of Bird Flu Vaccine
Th US has ordered stocks of a new experimental vaccine. As the dosage has not been tested, it is not known how many doses the money will buy - it could protect anything from 1.7 to 20 million people .
Indonesia confirms fourth human bird flu death
The fourth victim died in a Jakarta hospital. It is not known how she got it. Someone who had contact with her may have the virus without symptoms.
Mouse stem cells used to repair sheep hearts
Master cells from mice have been used to repair heart damage in sheep in France.
Study: More Hurricanes in Strongest Classes
An analysis published in Friday's issue of the journal Science says that the number of storms reaching categories 4 and 5 grew from about 11 per year in the 1970s to 18 per year since 1990.
2 Hikers Attacked by Yellowstone Grizzly
Two hikers in Yellowstone National Park were attacked by a grizzly bear but were not badly hurt.
Ohio Is Forming Farm Ties With Israel
Ohio and Israeli farmers and researchers are working together on a variety of projects, sharing information with a view to opening up markets for both.
Officials: Anthrax Kills 37 Mont. Cattle
37 cattle have died of anthrax on a northeast Montana ranch. It has been placed under quarantine. There are no human cases.
Experts Probe Tree Deaths in Arizona
Hundreds of cottonwood, willow and other trees along the Upper Santa Cruz River north of Nogales have died. Scientists and environmentalists are investigating.
Scientist: Global Warming Options Exist
Global climate specialist Richard Alley says that global warming threatens the earth, but that humans can still do something about it. Not everywhere will see gradual changes - in some cases climate change can be abrupt. He felt that humans would find alternative sources of energy, and hoped that the USA would profit from the new market.
NASA Weather Satellites to Study Clouds
NASA is to launch two weather satellites, CloudSat and Calipso, next month to study clouds globally, and how they affect weather and climate change.
Models: Pacific Coast Quake More Likely
The Cascadia subduction zone, a geologic fault off Canada's Pacific coast, is slipping. Canada's Vancouver Island has moved about a sixth of an inch westward since Sept. 3. Computer modelling shows that an earthquake is more likely than first thought off the coast of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, but the risk is low.
States Sue U.S. Over Tree-Eating Beetles
New York, California, Connecticut and Illinois have sued the Bush administration. They want the Agriculture Department to examine more effective and less environmentally harmful ways to prevent invasive insects such the Asian long-horned beetle, the emerald ash borer and the pine shoot beetles from entering the country.
Index of topics in this series.
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