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Beware of Scams - EPA Is Not Currently Performing Indoor Air Sampling in Response to Iowa Floods

Release Date: 07/03/2008
Contact Information: Beckie Himes, 913-551-7253, himes.beckie@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., July 3, 2008) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is not currently conducting indoor air sampling in response to the Iowa flooding. If the public is contacted by anyone representing themselves as EPA offering indoor air sampling for a fee, please report this activity to the FEMA Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721; the State Attorney General at 515-281-5926 (Iowa toll-free at 1-888-777-4590), the Better Business Bureau; or the Police Department in the city where the scam occurs.

EPA on-scene coordinators are assessing outdoor air quality by using fixed monitoring equipment situated at key points throughout the flood-damaged area. The initial locations for outdoor air sampling and monitoring activities include the cities of Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Fort Madison, Iowa City, Keokuk, Montrose, Parkersburg, and Waterloo, and Louisa County. The monitoring has begun in each of these locations.

The monitoring equipment will be set up in areas where demolition activity is taking place as part of the cleanup. Monitoring will be conducted during the times that the demolition contractors are performing their work (seven days a week, if necessary) to ensure readings during the dustiest days and times. Again, no indoor air monitoring is being conducted by the U.S. EPA at this time.

As analytical results for outdoor air sampling become available, reports will be posted on the EPA Region 7 Web site.