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EPA completes survey of Indiana flood waste

Release Date: 06/26/2008
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA114

CHICAGO (June 26, 2008) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has finished assessing 30 Indiana counties for hazardous materials and releases associated with the recent floods. EPA did not discover any significant hazardous debris or chemical releases.

On June 20, at the request of Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, EPA began to look for hazardous materials, oil, orphan containers and sites that might present an imminent danger to health or the environment. FEMA funded the $150,000 assessment operation.

At this time, EPA has not been tasked by FEMA to provide assistance with cleanup. EPA stands ready to provide further assistance if requested by FEMA or one of the Region 5 states.

IDEM has requested that if residents observe any releases of oil, gasoline or chemicals or any stray barrels, waste containers, cylinders and pressure vessels that they promptly report the discovery to the state's 24-hour spill line: 888-233-7745.

More information about Midwest flood response and recovery is available at: http://www.usa.gov/flooding.shtml.

As with any flooding situation, EPA recommends that residents avoid contact with floodwater. More EPA advice about floods is available at: https://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/flooding.html.