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Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Louisiana - Texas - EPA Response Update

Release Date: 10/1/2005
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Unified Command Response teams continue to inspect drinking water, waste water, industrial facilities, underground storage tanks, and NPL sites potentially impacted by the recent hurricanes.  Sediment and floodwater samples continue to be collected from affected areas.  Analytical results are being posted to EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/katrina.

      Teams are testing individual private well water supplies in Livingston.  Drinking water from public water systems in Kinder has begun and will continue for several weeks. Teams collected seven outfall water samples from Orleans Parish pump stations. A team collected flood water samples from the lower 9th Ward and the West End/Lakeview area in Orleans Parish. One surface water sample was taken from the Florida Canal near the Ag Street Landfill site in Orleans Parish. A team collected 14 sediment samples from the lower 9th Ward in Orleans Parish and the western area of St. Bernard Parish.

     Collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) continued in St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes. To date, nearly 38,700 items have been collected, mostly small containers. The establishment of a staging area in Lafourche Parish continues.  EPA met with St. Bernard officials to develop collection and handling procedures. Also, Orleans Parish is preparing to initiate HHW collection activities.

     LDEQ/START teams conducted evaluations of 17 multi-media facilities, including wastewater treatment plants, in Tangipahoa Parish. Teams conducted reconnaissance at 46 underground storage tank facilities.