Storm Cleanup Falls to La. DEQ Huge Job Involves Homes, Cars, Cities Cleaning Up Issues After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

The state Department of Environmental Quality is dealing with many disposal issues related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to information provided by DEQ Secretary Mike McDaniel.

RAILROAD CARS

2,500 affected by the hurricanes.

250 derailed, but no leaks detected so far.

“To date, we haven’t seen any major releases or leaks,” McDaniel said. “Which is a relief because there were some that contained some pretty hazardous materials.”

RADIATION SOURCES (From hospitals, universities and other sites.)n New Orleans area: 186 locations, 300 visits.

Lake Charles area: 72 locations, 83 visits.

SUPERFUND SITES

None found to have samples higher than standards set by the Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program.

FLOODWATER SAMPLING

250 samples taken and tested for concentrations of 200 different compounds.

High levels of fecal coliform found initially, but those have declined over timen Some elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc found, but not at levels that would be an immediate health threat.

LAKE PONCHARTRAIN

8.86 billion cubic feet of water was pumped from New Orleans into the lake, representing about 4.5 percent of the lake’s volume. Testing showed there was little effect to the lake’s water quality.

36,000 analyses were done on water quality.

No toxicity has been seen in 88 tests of fish in the water. MISS. RIVER

DRINKING WATER

25 samples collected showing bacteria samples met water quality standards.

HURRICANE RITA WATER QUALITY

Water quality sampling program has been started for areas impacted by Hurricane Rita.

SEDIMENT

350 soil samples have been collected in the New Orleans area and analyzed for compounds, including volatile organic compounds, metals and pesticides.

Large amounts of E. Coli found in sediments, but it’s expected those levels will fall as the sediments dry. n Petroleum hydrocarbons in the Murphy Oil spill area found. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said there could be concern for long-term skin contact.

AIR QUALITY

Monitoring stations operational since Sept. 14.

No levels have registered above Louisiana or EPA’s air quality standards.

EPA found elevated benzene levels around Murphy Oil in St. Bernard Parish just after the storm but more recent sampling found those levels reduced.

“On the whole, the air quality is looking pretty good,” McDaniel said, partly because there aren’t as many cars on the road in the New Orleans area as there were before the hurricanes.

STORM DEBRIS

Estimates are that Hurricane Katrina produced 22 million tons of debris and Hurricane Rita produced a half-million tons.

All white goods (washers, dryers, refrigerators) need to be removed for recycling.

Thermostats will be removed because they contain mercury.

Smoke detectors will be removed because they include small amounts of radioactive material.

All other household hazardous waste must be removed.

According to FEMA, about 31 million cubic yards of debris has been removed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.