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INFORMATIONAL SESSION

INFORMATIONAL SESSION. Tom Harris LDEQ M.S.P.H. Environmental Technology Division Overview of Environmental Sampling Post Hurricane Katrina. SEARCH AND RESCUE.

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INFORMATIONAL SESSION

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  1. INFORMATIONAL SESSION Tom Harris LDEQ M.S.P.H. Environmental Technology Division Overview of Environmental Sampling Post Hurricane Katrina

  2. SEARCH AND RESCUE • Teaming with the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, LDEQ employees aided in the rescue of approximately 480 people from the hurricane affected area.

  3. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTWater Sampling–New Orleans Area

  4. FLOODWATER SAMPLINGNew Orleans Area Sampling • 690 floodwater samples taken • 192 compounds analyzed per each sample • Volatile and semi-volatile organics,metals, pesticides, herbicides, PCBs & petroleum hydrocarbons • Floodwater sample results were compared to Lifetime Drinking Water Standards!!!

  5. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTNew Orleans Floodwaters–Toxic Soup? • There was never any “toxic soup” in the floodwaters of New Orleans

  6. HISTORIC STORMWATER DISCHARGE VERSUS FLOODWATER DISCHARGEConcentration Levels in Floodwaters • Post-Katrina floodwaters were pumped into canals and then discharged to Lake Pontchartrain • These floodwater discharge concentrations were compared to historical permitted discharge monitoring reports for stormwater • Comparison of maximum detected results revealed very little difference between historical norms and post-Katrina levels

  7. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSurface Waters–Lake Pontchartrain and Surrounding Waters • Used 49 historic water quality sites plus 9 new sites to assess impacts to area water bodies • Conducted more than 55,000 analyses for water quality • Conducted biotoxicity testing on floodwaters pumped into the lake

  8. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSurface Waters–Canal Outfalls • No toxicity was observed in 100 tests results of fish larvae • 7 out of 100 test results for invertebrates indicated toxicity (3 canal sites) • Retesting at the 3 canal sites has shown no further toxicity levels • All other parameters at or near normal

  9. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediments • Considerable sampling and analysis of sediments deposited throughout the flooded areas was done to address public health concerns

  10. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment/Soil Sampling • Joint effort among USEPA, LDEQ, CDC, ATSDR, LDHH and the New Orleans Health Department • Over 1500 soil/sediment samples have been collected to date • Samples analyzed for over 200 chemicals • Tiered approach with multiple phases

  11. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase I Sediment Sampling • Sampling began as floodwaters receded • 450 biased samples were collected to identify possible releases • Samples were collected from sediments with stains or odors and from curbs/storm drains and drainage paths

  12. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  13. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  14. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  15. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  16. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  17. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase II Sediment Sampling • Objective - more extensively characterize chemical nature of sediment in areas with heavy deposits • 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish (excluding the area impacted by the Murphy Oil spill) • 282 samples collected • Compared to protective residential standards

  18. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  19. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  20. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Sediment Sampling • 43 sample locations out of 770 taken from earlier phases identified as localized areas that may require additional evaluation • Arsenic, Lead or Benzo(a)pyrene • The neighborhood around the Thompson- Hayward site was also identified for further evaluation

  21. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Focused Sampling • To determine if elevated levels were isolated or representative of a larger area • ~10 composite samples within a 500’ radius of each of the 43 original sample locations • Compared results to long-term Residential Standards (30 year, children)

  22. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  23. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Findings–Arsenic • No Phase III arsenic samples concentration were above residential levels • Arsenic concentrations are not expected to cause health impacts to children or adults in a residential setting • No follow-up is necessary for arsenic

  24. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Findings–Benzo(a)pyrene • One composite sample in the Agriculture Street landfill area exceeded EPA’s acceptable risk range for B(a)P assuming long-term residential exposure. • All other Phase III samples were below residential levels • Not a widespread problem, limited to a small area – EPA is currently working with HANO to determine future property use.

  25. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Findings–Thompson-Hayward • 9 composite samples taken in the surrounding neighborhood • Analyzed for complete spectrum of pesticides, no results exceeded residential levels • Results indicated no adverse health effects for long-term residential exposure.

  26. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase III Findings–Lead • Lead concentrations exceeded residential screening levels in 57 of 147 composite samples where lead had been detected in earlier samples • Samples results ranged from below 400 mg/kg to 3960 mg/kg • Results are consistent with historical levels in New Orleans, with national studies and are not hurricane related. • Detailed chemical analysis determined the source of lead contamination in these areas to be lead based paint

  27. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSediment Sampling

  28. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTLead Issues • Need to address the source of lead: housing stock built prior to 1978 • USEPA, LDEQ, LDHH and City Health Department are working together to address lead issues.

  29. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTPhase IV Sediment Sampling • Last phase of focused sampling: • February 2006 – June 2006 • Objective - more extensively characterize chemical nature of sediments. Over 700 samples collected. No human health issues discovered. • Petroleum hydrocarbons are rapidly degrading, as expected

  30. ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENTSummary • More than 1,800 New Orleans area sediment samples have been collected and analyzed for a wide variety of chemicals • Soil chemistry post-Katrina is little changed from pre- Katrina conditions, and levels of contaminants are similar to other older urban centers around the country. • Other than pre-existing lead in areas with older housing, soils in New Orleans do not pose health risk to residents, children or sensitive sub-populations. • Scientists from USEPA, CDC, ATSDR, LDHH and LDEQ have worked together in this data assessment.

  31. INFORMATIONAL SESSION Nancy Jones US EPA Incident Commander Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Recycling

  32. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION • Collection Site Locations • What was collected • How it was collected • Where it was disposed • Total of Collected Items

  33. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION • Collection Site Locations

  34. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION • What was collected

  35. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION • How it was collected

  36. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION • Where it was disposed

  37. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION TOTALS • Waste Disposal more than 10,000 tons • Hazardous Waste Collection Items included Drums, Propane Tanks, Large and Small containers • Over 4,000,000 items

  38. RECYCLING • Electronics: More than 700,000 items • White Goods: More than 400,000 • Propane Tanks, Cylinders, Batteries: For Orleans Parish – 75% of the items were recycled

  39. CORPORATE CITIZENSHIPE-CYCLING • EPA Partners With Best Buy To Recycle Electronics As A Part of Ongoing Hurricane Katrina Cleanup Efforts • EPA and Best Buy have teamed up to increase collection and safe recycling of computers This month, Best Buy also will collect and pay for the environmentally safe recycling of computers, monitors, and televisions that are currently held in certain staging areas in the county.

  40. CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP • EPA and Dell To Recycle Electronic Equipment Destroyed by Hurricane Katrina • EPA and Dell Inc. are teaming up to increase collection and safe recycling of computers and other electronic equipment destroyed by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Consumers in the New Orleans region can drop off any brand of old or unwanted computer equipment…….

  41. WHITE GOODS • Freon Extraction

  42. PROPANE TANKS, CYLINDERS AND BATTERIES

  43. IN COMPARISON • Hazardous Materials Collected: Would fill up about 700 above ground swimming pools • White Goods: Laid end to end, the refrigerators would stretch, from New Orleans to Dallas. If Stood up, they would occupy the space of 63 football fields • Total Debris: Would fill up the Superdome almost 14 times

  44. INFORMATIONAL SESSION Dr. Chuck Carr Brown LDEQ Assitant Secretary Office of Environmental Services Debris Management Progress Reports

  45. HURRICANE KATRINA AND RITA WIND TRACKS

  46. KATRINA FLOODING IN NEW ORLEANS

  47. STORM DEBRIS MANAGEMENT:

  48. STORM DEBRIS MANAGEMENTStorm Debris Quantity Estimates Based upon Corps of Engineer Debris Models: • Hurricane Katrina generated an estimated 22 million tons (55 million cubic yards) of debris. • Hurricane Rita generated an estimated 2.6 million tons (6 million cubic yards) of debris.

  49. STORM DEBRIS MANAGEMENTDebris Management Sites Debris management sites have been identified by the local parishes and evaluated and approved by DEQ.These sites are designated for specific purposes: • Woodwaste Burning Operations • Woodwaste Chipping and Grinding • Construction and Demolition Staging or Disposal • Staging of Boats, Vehicles, White Goods • Staging of Household Hazardous Waste The current debris management sites have been used to process 68% of Katrina generated debris and 99% of Rita generated debris. • 402 approved sites in the state • 216 for Katrina debris • 186 for Rita debris

  50. STORM DEBRIS MANAGEMENTOther Storm Debris Waste Streams • Electronic Goods disposal (Computers, Televisions, etc.) • White Goods-Katrina & Rita (USACE; Refrigerators, freezers, A/C, W/D, Stoves,Water Heaters, DW, Water fountains, microwaves) • Freon Extraction • Orphan Containers • Hazardous Waste (Drums, propane tanks, cylinders, other large/small containers)

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