EPA Response Activity - September 29

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.

Sampling – On 9/30, sampling of soil/sediment is expected to begin in affected areas along the Gulf coast. On 9/28, sampling continued on sediment, air, and water (flood, outfall, and surface) in New Orleans.

National Priorities List – EPA teams continue to assess National Priorities List (NPL) sites in the area affected by Rita. Twenty one 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. On 9/26, a team collected one surface water sample from the Florida Canal near the Agriculture Street site in New Orleans, and on 9/25, one sample from the People’s Canal near the site.

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

Chemical and Petroleum - No large environmental incidents from Rita were identified in Texas that need to be addressed by EPA at this time. EPA is examining existing damage in western Louisiana parishes and the possible need for EPA assets in these areas.

Drinking Water Assessment -- In LA, there are a total of 1591 drinking water facilities that served approximately 5 million people. As of 9/28, EPA has determined that 294 of these facilities are operational, 30 are operating on a boil water notice, 25 are not operating, and further information is being gathered on 1272 (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 1,250 of these facilities are operational, 81 are operating on a boil water notice and 37 are inoperable. 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 9/28, EPA has determined that 124 of these facilities are operational and 49 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, only 1 facility is not operating with 7 others have operational difficulties. 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.

Debris Assessment and Collection – Collection activities are resuming following Rita for household hazardous wastes (HHW) and orphan containers in the hurricane affected area. In addition, EPA personnel will continue to offer technical assistance in the disposal of hazardous waste and other debris left behind by the storm. As of 9/29, EPA has collected over 45,000 HHW/orphan containers throughout the affected region. Four collection sites have been put into place for collection of these wastes in MS and AL and one collection site has been located in St.Tammany Parish, LA. The draft Debris Removal Plans for LA, AL, and MS, are in final review. The plan will enable Federal agencies and the states to comprehensively manage large scale and complex debris.