All News Releases By Date

EPA Posts Results of Additional Samples Taken at the Murphy Oil Site

Release Date: 03/03/2006
Contact Information: Dale Kemery, (202) 564-4355 / kemery.dale@epa.gov

(3/3/06) On March 2, EPA updated its website to include the results from additional samples collected at the Murphy Oil Site. Pursuant to a FEMA Mission Assignment, US EPA is overseeing Murphy Oil's ongoing sampling activities and cleanup of residential and other properties. Today EPA posted samples taken as part of two ongoing efforts.

The first set of samples was taken as part of ongoing activities to assess the level of contamination at residential and other sites. Ten percent of the samples collected by Murphy are split, and US EPA sends the split samples for independent analysis. Some of the samples posted today indicate that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and diesel and oil range organic chemicals were detected above Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality screening levels. Thus far, Murphy has collected 7138 sediment samples from 4214 properties. Of the 7138 sediment samples collected, US EPA has sent 738 split samples for separate analyses. US EPA has received, evaluated and is posting the results of the first 706 samples at sites before and after cleanup activities.

The second set of samples was taken after cleanup at each property to confirm that the RECAP standards have been met. Ten percent of the confirmatory samples Murphy collects are split, and US EPA sends the split samples for independent analysis. Thus far, US EPA has sent 10 split samples for separate analyses. US EPA has received, evaluated and is posting the results of the first eight samples. Results show that the levels of compounds detected in the samples were below their respective RECAP standards.

More information on these results: epa.gov/katrina/testresults/murphy/index.html