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EPA Posts Results from Samples taken in Hurricane Affected Areas of Mississippi

Release Date: 01/13/2006
Contact Information: Eryn Witcher, (202) 564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov

(1/13/06) On Jan. 13, 2006 EPA posted results from soil and sediment samples collected near hazardous waste facilities or facilities that handle hazardous substances in the hurricane affected areas of Mississippi. These samples were taken to determine if flooding from the storm surge released hazardous constituents and materials. The facilities being investigated are located in the storm surge impacted portions of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties in Mississippi, and include Sonford Products; Chemfax, Inc.; DuPont DeLisle - Pass Christian; Chevron Pascagoula; First Chemical; Mississippi Phosphates; Omega Protein - Moss Point; Port Bienville Industrial Park (Polychemie, Inc.); and Ershigs Fiberglass, Inc.

Based on the sampling results, EPA does not believe these sites were impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

EPA's conclusions regarding the potential impact of the hurricane on these sites are based on a comparison of post-hurricane data to available past sample data collected during facility investigations or routine monitoring activities. In addition, the results were compared to EPA Region 9 Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs) to determine if conditions at the sites might represent previously unrecognized risks to human health and the environment. EPA Region 9 PRGs (available at: https://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/sfund/prg/index.html ) are conservative risk-based concentrations based on long-term exposures in either a residential or commercial/industrial setting. They are considered by EPA to be protective for people (including sensitive groups) over a lifetime.

More detailed information on these results: epa.gov/katrina/testresults