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From Oil Spills To Ice Cubes -- EPA Responds To Hurricane Georges

Release Date: 10/15/1998
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(#98148) San Juan, Puerto Rico -- In the wake of Hurricane Georges, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is playing a major role in federal and Commonwealth relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

In a coordinated effort lead by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, EPA is ensuring that public health and the environment are protected by overseeing the cleanup of several oil spills that occurred after the hurricane; inspecting hundreds of industrial facilities, wastewater treatment plants and drinking water facilities; and testing the bottled water and ice being shipped into Puerto Rico to ensure that they are safe for consumption. EPA also coordinated with the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board a household hazardous waste collection program that allowed residents to safely discard household wastes such as pesticides, herbicides, paints, solvents and waste oil. In addition, the Agency is inspecting federal Superfund sites and facilities that handle hazardous waste to evaluate any impacts from the storm; and schools, shelters and other buildings where asbestos may have been disturbed by the hurricane.

This work is being conducted by an EPA emergency response team of over 40 experts from EPA's San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York and New Jersey offices. The efforts are being assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard's National Strike Teams.

"We are out in force because hurricanes can continue to pose environmental and health dangers long after their raging winds and rain have passed," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "The damage from this hurricane Georges has contributed to wastewater treatment plant failures, polluting local waters and shutting down many drinking water plants, jeopardizing reliable and safe drinking water. EPA is working aggressively with federal and Commonwealth authorities to curb the impacts of the hurricane. Together, we are acting as watchdogs for the health of the citizens of Puerto Rico."

The U.S. Coast Guard and EPA are overseeing the ongoing cleanup of several oil spills, including spills at the Gulf Caribbean Petroleum facility in Bayamon, the San Juan Municipal Health Department facility in San Juan and the Lilly de Caribe (Eli Lilly) facility in Mayaguez. At the Gulf Caribbean Petroleum facility, approximately 17,000 gallons of No 6 fuel oil spilled into a containment area surrounding the tank. The Coast Guard and EPA are investigating reports that a malfunctioning valve caused the oil to subsequently leak from this area into two nearby creeks and an adjoining wetlands. A dam was built to prevent further contamination of wetlands and the oil is being removed, to the extent possible, from the wetlands creeks and storm drains. Currently, contaminated soil in and around the site is being removed. EPA is coordinating the oversight of this clean-up with the US Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in San Juan.

At the San Juan Municipal Health Department, a pump malfunctioned and a tank used to store diesel oil for the facility's emergency generator overfilled, causing oil to breach the tank's secondary containment. The oil migrated into nearby storm drains and eventually to a nearby creek. Booms were placed in the creek to contain the spill, the concrete holding area was drained, oil was recovered from storm drains, and contaminated soil was removed and packed into drums.

At the Lilly de Caribe pharmaceutical plant in Mayaguez, the facility sustained some storm damage. Facility personnel confirmed that a number of 55-gallon drums, some containing hazardous substances such as propionic anhydride, sodium-2-naphthalene sulfonate and heptane, floated away from the facility. Facility workers have reported to EPA that they recovered all of the drums. However, if any more drums are spotted, they should immediately be reported to EPA, through it's National Response Center, at 1-800-424-8802. The drums could be hazardous, and should not be handled.

EPA is also working with the U.S. Coast Guard Strike Team on a cleanup at the site of the Jayuya Sewage Treatment Plant which was destroyed by Hurricane Georges. The EPA, Coast Guard and PRASA are continued to search for three of four one-ton chlorine cylinders, used in the wastewater treatment process, which are believed to be buried in mud and debris. The Jayuya Sewage Treatment Plant was washed away as a result of torrential flood waters. One cylinder has already been recovered. Chlorine is a dangerous substance that can be lethal and it must be handled carefully.

In a coordinated effort, EPA , Commonwealth health officials and the U.S. Coast Guard Strike Team are working to ensure that drinking water is safe. The Agency is taking samples at drinking water treatment plants that are providing water to Island residents, and, with the assistance of U.S. Coast Guard Strike Team personnel, is collecting and analyzing ice and bottled water that is being flown in from the mainland. To date, all of the water that has been sampled by EPA is safe to drink.

EPA is also continuing to conduct inspections at industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Georges. These facilities are being inspected to assess damages from the hurricane and the need for any cleanup action or technical assistance from EPA.

"I have toured the Island since the hurricane and witnessed first-hand the destruction of invaluable resources and critical infrastructure. The Commonwealth is working very hard to repair damages to its facilities and address the many environmental and health hazards across the Island," Fox added. "EPA is proud to be part of such a colossal effort, and we will continue to help in any way that we can."

For more information contact:
Mary Mears, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3669 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: mears.mary@epamail.epa.gov