News Briefs: (1) EPA Samples Three Temporary Housing Locations in Louisiana; (2) Murphy Oil Sampling Data Released; (3) Air Data From New Orleans and Mississippi Released; (4) Results Released from Post Hurricane Samples taken at Old Gentilly Landfill in New Orleans

*News Briefs 

*If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer. 

For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, January 11, 2006) 
* 
(1) EPA Samples Three Temporary Housing Locations in Louisiana 
(2) Murphy Oil Sampling Data Released 
(3) Air Data From **New Orleans** and **Mississippi** Released 
(4) Results Released from Post Hurricane Samples taken at Old Gentilly Landfill in New Orleans 


(1) EPA Samples Three Temporary Housing Locations in Louisiana 

*Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov 

On Jan. 6, 2006, EPA released results from soil samples taken at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at three potential temporary resident housing locations in St. Bernard Parish, La. Samples from Judge Perez Drive and Corinne Baptist Church locations in Violet, and Fanz Mobile Estate Park in Toca will be used to help FEMA determine the suitability of these locations for temporary housing for residents.  

EPA has a mission assignment to sample up to 25 sites for FEMA, and will continue to sample locations as requested. 

All results will be posted on the web site at: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html#housing [ http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html#housing ] 

*(2) Murphy Oil Sampling Data Released 

*Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov 

On Jan. 6, 2006, EPA posted 52 additional Murphy Oil samples taken at residential and other properties near the oil spill at Murphy's Meraux Refinery in St. Bernard Parish, La. These most recent sample results were consistent with other samples taken. The primary contaminants detected in the new sediment samples that were above the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Screening Standards for Soil were polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are commonly found in fuel oils and crude oil, and diesel and oil range organic chemicals. The screening levels are intended to be protective levels based on long-term (i.e., 30-year) exposures to children and adults in a residential setting.        

EPA recommends, in the short-term, that residents returning to the area should avoid direct contact with the crude oil contaminated sediments. These compounds can pose a skin irritation problem if they get onto bare or broken skin. Skin contact with crude oils for short periods may cause itchy, red, sore, or peeling skin. 

To date, the facility has collected a total of 5,582 interior and exterior sediment samples from 3,242 residences. Of these 5,582 sediment samples, EPA has collected 578 split samples for analysis at an off-site laboratory. US EPA has received, evaluated and is posting the results of the first 516 samples.* *US EPA will continue to post the results of these samples as they become available.          

 

For more information on these results and EPA recommendations, visit: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/murphy/index.html [ http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/murphy/index.html ] 

 

*(3) Air Data From **New Orleans** and **Mississippi** Released 

*Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov 

On Jan. 9, 2006, EPA posted another set of air quality data for hurricane impacted areas in both Mississippi and New Orleans. The samples taken tested for fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 10) particles, asbestos, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). All compounds measured were below EPA's health-based screening levels, except for concentrations of acrolein at testing sites in both Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Samples showed concentrations of acrolein continue to fluctuate between concentrations above EPA's 1-year screening level and concentrations too low to be detected at three sites in Mississippi (Stennis Space Center, Maple Street in Gulfport, and Hospital Road in Pascagoula) and in Jefferson Parish, La. Acrolein can enter the air when organic matter such as trees and other plants are burned and when fuels such as gasoline and oil are burned. The acrolein concentrations measured are below those where health effects, beginning with irritation of eyes, nose and throat, begin to be expected. 

For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/enviro/katrina/emkatrina.html [ http://www.epa.gov/enviro/katrina/emkatrina.html ] 

*(4) Results Released from Post Hurricane Samples taken at Old Gentilly Landfill in New Orleans 

*Contact: Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov 

On Jan. 6, 2006, EPA posted results from surface water samples taken adjacent to the Old Gentilly Landfill in Orleans Parish on Nov. 5 and 6, 2005. EPA is monitoring the landfill operations as part of our ongoing post-Katrina cleanup efforts. Trace amounts of pesticides, volatile organic compounds, diesel range organic compounds, and metals were detected in the samples, however, only thallium slightly exceeded Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) levels for drinking water. As the surface water is not used as a source of drinking water, and samples did not indicate any additional issues, EPA does not plan to continue monitoring at the site. 

For more information on these results, visit: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html#landfill [ http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html#landfill ] 


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