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Hurricane Katrina Response Activities Daily Update

Release Date: 10/5/2005
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The incident response, which has been based in Baton Rouge, will move during the upcoming weekend in three phases. A small staff will remain in the Baton Rouge area to ensure coordination with Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality and other responders still there.

     EPA has continued to evaluate existing Superfund sites for any impacts resulting from both Hurricanes.  Sites visited include the state-led Thompson-Hayward site.  EPA is also evaluating data collected from earlier assessments of Agriculture Street Landfill, Bayou Bonfouca,  Southern Shipbuilding,  Delatte Metals, and Madisonville Creosote Works.  The Mallard Bay site is not yet accessible because over two feet of water is covering the Mallard Bay area.

     EPA responded to potable water issues raised by state and local governments and businesses concerned with potentially un-permitted water distributors.  The Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals and EPA are working closely on this issue, and a press release was issued advising the hotel and restaurant industry to check the reputability of water provided by water trucks.  EPA also continues to perform a great deal of water sampling and analysis for drinking water sources, storm water runoff, flood water and surface water.  A team assisted the collection and documentation of water quality samples from Lake Pontchartrain at crossover locations on the Causeway Bridge.

     Removal work continues at sites through the city, as well as intensive focus on the collection and safe disposal of household hazardoud wastes and orphan containers. To date, more than 45,400 containers have been collected.  EPA is significantly expanding the resources available to work on hazardous debris recovery and household hazardous waste collection, consolidation, and disposal.  Currently activity is underway in three parishes and being planned in four others. EPA has activated nearly two dozen community involvement coordinators to assist with HHW activities.