Test results from flood water, sediment from flood water, surface water, soil, and time-delayed air sampling in the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are available in the Enviromapper tool. Enviromapper combines interactive maps and aerial photography to geographically display the sampling locations and analysis results. More...
Sediment and Flood Water Sampling Locations: Sampling of flood water and sediment occurred only in Louisiana.
To view all of the sampling results, use the By Zip, City, County, State search and search for Louisiana. To view a smaller subsection of the results, search by one of the Parishes:
- Jefferson
- Orleans
- Plaquemines
- St. Bernard
- St. Tammany
Temporary Housing Locations: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has requested that EPA sample areas that are candidate for temporary housing. To find information about these locations, select
Temporary Housing Locations.
Resampling Locations: EPA is currently resampling sediment. To find this information, select the
Areas of Interest, Resampling Area 1 - 4, and use the date range Nov. 19 -20.
Focused Sample Locations:
In January 2006, EPA and LDEQ identified 43
areas where the original sediment sampling detected elevated
concentrations of arsenic, lead, or benzo(a)pyrene in flood-impacted
residential areas. These analytes were detected in discrete sediment
samples collected in Fall 2005 in concentrations that the agencies
believed required more focused investigations. The purpose of the
focused investigation was to assess whether or not the concentration of
arsenic, lead, or benzo(a)pyrene detected in the Fall 2005 sample at a
particular location is isolated to that location or a concentration
that is representative of a larger area. EPA and LDEQ also sampled the
neighborhood in the immediate vicinity of the former Thompson-Hayward
pesticide blending facility.
To find this information, go to the Areas of Interest. From the pick
list select Focused Sampling of Flood Impacted Soils and Sediments 1-3.
When you select one of these three areas, the date range defaults to
02/16/2006 - 02/22/2006. Samples from group 1 are located in the following zip codes:
70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126,
70130. Group 2 samples are located in zip code area 70126. Group 3
samples are located in zip code area 70092.
Once you select one of the general areas, you can "zoom in" to see
street names. On the menu bar directly below the map, click the Zoom
In radio button. Draw a box around the area that you want with your
mouse by clicking the starting point of your box on the map. Drag the
mouse to enlarge the box in any direction. When you release the mouse,
the map will automatically redraw itself to focus on the area inside of
the box.
Samples are represented by green stars (sediment from floodwater) or
brown triangles (soil). To view the results for any particular sample
click the sample icon. A window will open describing the sampling
location. Click the highlighted word Soil or Sediment and the
analytical results for that sample will be displayed.
Sampling of Residual Sediment Locations:
On February 6, EPA began a new phase of sediment sampling in the flood-impacted areas, targeted to public
areas in the residential neighborhoods where people are returning to their homes. A systematic grid with
points at a 200-foot interval was transposed over the flood-impacted areas.
A sample team visited each point on the grid and noted the presence or absence of sediment.
Samples were collected at only those grid points where sediment was found in sufficient quantities
(i.e., greater than 0.5 centimeters thick).
Samples collected in this phase were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides/PCBs,
herbicides, diesel and oil range organic chemicals and metals. Results of the samples collected are being
compared to Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action (RECAP)
Management Option 1 Standards for residential soils and, for potential cancer-causing chemicals, concentrations
that fall within USEPA's cancer risk range. To find this information, go to the Areas of
Interest. The samples are located in one of the following zip codes: 70032, 70092, 70117, 70122, 70126, 70127, 70122, 70126, 70127, 70043, 70075, 70390. From the picklist, select
Sampling of Residual Sediment in Flood Impacted Areas - zip code.
Other Sampling Areas: EPA is sampling other locations that may have been affected by the Hurricanes. To find this information, select
Areas of Interest and search using one of the following locations:
- Chemfax Inc.
- Chevron Pascagoula
- Ershigs Fiberglass Inc.
- DuPont DeLisle
- Gentilly Landfill
- Naval Construction Battalion Center
- Omega Protein
- Polychemie Inc.
- Sonford Products
Surface Water Sampling Locations: Current surface water sampling locations are most easily found by selecting the State of Louisiana and the Parish of Plaquemines
in the By Zip, City, County, State search, or by selecting the By Area of Interest search using one of the following:
- The Mississippi River Mouth and Plume (displays the current sampling data collected by the EPA OSV Bold.)
- The Coastal Mississippi Bays (displays the Water Quality Study of Bays in Coastal Mississippi data.)
Superfund National Priority List Sites: Sampling on National Priority List sites can be found using By Superfund National Priority List.
Ground water and soil samples have been taken from the sites.
Murphy Oil: Sampling on the Murphy Oil USA, Inc site can be found by using By Area of Interest and selecting Murphy Oil.
Soil Testing at Schools: EPA collected soil samples from schools, a list of these locations can be found using the By Schools search. EPA compared the results of the soil samples to Louisiana's Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) residential soil standards.
Playground Soil and Sediment Sampling: At the request of the New Orleans Health Department, USEPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ) collected soil samples at eighteen playgrounds across the city and analyzed the samples for lead.
Seventeen of the playgrounds were flooded as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Although Audubon Park was not
flooded, it was sampled at the request of LDEQ. USEPA and LDEQ began collecting soil samples from these parks on July 5,
and completed the sampling on July 12. The number of individual samples collected at each playground ranged from eleven
samples at several of the smaller playgrounds up to twenty-seven samples at Audubon Park. The results of the samples were
compared to LDEQ’s Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) Residential Screening Level of 400 mg/kg lead.
The results have been provided to the New Orleans Health Department and are summarized below by zip code. To find this
information go to Areas of Interest. The samples are located in one of the following zip codes 70117, 70118, 70119, 70122,
70125, 70126, 70127. From the picklist, select Playground Soil Samples - zip code.
Air Quality Sampling Locations: This site provides air quality data
available as of July 12, 2006. Air quality sampling results available after July 12th are on EPA's Air Quality System.
Members of the public who are unfamiliar with this system may contact Virginia Ambrose (919-541-5454) for assistance in accessing these data.
Air quality sampling locations in New Orleans and Mississippi are most easily found by selecting By Area of Interest and searching for the following:
- New Orleans / South Shore Lake Pontchartrain
- Coastal Mississippi Bays
The resulting map will display air monitoring locations as blue triangles. By selecting an air monitor you can view available data on pollutants measured at that site. EPA is presenting the results for the subset of pollutants potentially associated with the recovery activities and thought to have the greatest likelihood for levels of concern.
These include: arsenic, asbestos, lead, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon chemicals (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
All the data collected as part of this effort are available on EPA's Air Quality System.
