[CPEO-BIF] "Toxic and Contaminant Concerns Generated by Hurricane Katrina"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Toxic and Contaminant Concerns Generated by Hurricane Katrina

Danny D. Reible, Charles N. Haas, John H. Pardue, and William J. Walsh
The Bridge (National Academy of Engineering)
Spring 2006


Decisions about rebuilding are based more on the potential for 
reflooding than on the overall health of the New Orleans area.

When Hurricane Katrina flooded the city of New Orleans, one of many 
concerns in its wake was contamination. Several chemical plants, 
petroleum refining facilities, and contaminated sites, including 
Superfund sites, were covered by floodwaters. In addition, hundreds of 
commercial establishments, such as service stations, pest control 
businesses, and dry cleaners, may have released potentially hazardous 
chemicals into the floodwaters. Figure 1 (see PDF version for figures) 
shows potential petroleum-related release points, including refineries, 
oil and gas wells, and service stations near the city. Figure 2 shows 
the major hazardous-materials storage locations, Superfund sites, and 
Toxic Release Inventory reporting facilities.

Adding to the potential sources of toxics and environmental contaminants 
are metal-contaminated soils typical of old urban areas and construction 
lumber preserved with creosote, pentachlorophenol, and arsenic. 
Compounding these concerns is the presence of hazardous chemicals 
commonly stored in households and the fuel and motor oil in 
approximately 400,000 flooded automobiles. Uncontrolled biological 
wastes from both human and animal sources also contributed to the 
pollutant burden in the city.

In the confusion immediately after the flooding, the amount of 
contamination was not known. Oil slicks near some service stations and 
flooded automobiles and wastes floating or suspended in floodwaters 
provided clear evidence of some environmental releases. A 250,000-barrel 
above-ground storage tank at the Murphy Oil USA Meraux Refinery in St. 
Bernard Parish southeast of the downtown area was dislodged and lifted 
by the floodwaters, spilling approximately 25,000 barrels (more than one 
million gallons) of crude oil and impacting a one square mile area 
containing approximately 1,700 homes (EPA, 2005c).

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.nae.edu/NAE/bridgecom.nsf/weblinks/MKEZ-6MYQQP?OpenDocument

--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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