News Releases from Region 07

EPA Teams Collected Nearly 3,000 Tons of Residential Debris and Hazardous Materials from December Flooding in St. Louis

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., March 22, 2016) - EPA Region 7 and its contractors collected almost 3,000 tons of residential debris and hazardous materials during a nearly two-month-long mission to help residents of Missouri's Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties recover from severe flooding caused by heavy rains in late December 2015.

Final figures show EPA crews picked up a total of 2,982 tons (5,964,000 pounds) of residential debris across the four St. Louis metro area counties. EPA was assigned the residential debris collection mission by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which coordinated the overall response to the flooding event.

EPA teams deployed to the St. Louis area in early January and continued on a schedule of curbside debris pickups in affected residential areas through February 15. EPA also operated a drop-off collection facility in Eureka, conducted aerial assessments to identify affected areas and locate flood debris, and deployed boats to collect various types of orphaned containers and debris from area lakes, streams and shorelines. A small team of EPA staff remained on duty through February 26 to assist community volunteers in a final effort to collect lingering debris, and close out the agency's response operations.

Overall, EPA's work resulted in the recycling, treatment or disposal of approximately 8,913 cubic yards of residential flood debris. Among the collections - besides common construction, demolition and vegetative debris - were 317 drums, 20,852 assorted small containers, 112 large containers, 179 propane tanks, 266 compressed gas tanks, 1,032 white goods (major appliances like refrigerators and stoves), 403 batteries, 177 small engines, and 6,037 electronic items.

EPA also handled the collection and disposal of 1,310 tons (2,620,000 pounds) of sandbags.

"EPA's goals in this mission were to help St. Louis metro residents recover as quickly as possible while minimizing expenses to taxpayers and impacts on the environment," EPA Regional Administrator Mark Hague said. "As a key part of the broader response led by FEMA, we are proud to have accomplished these goals."

With experience acquired from its work following other major natural disasters - including the Joplin tornado in 2011 and severe flooding in Iowa in 2008 - EPA Region 7 brought its "lean and green" approach to the St. Louis area response. That approach was demonstrated in how the agency handled the collection, transportation and disposal of each category of flood debris: