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Summary of Soil Testing at Schools
Test Results
Chalmette High School
Montegut Middle School
Port Sulphur High School, Port Sulphur, LA
Test results
On October 8, 2005, in response to a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected 8 surface soil samples at the Chalmette High School, in St. Bernard Parish, LA. Chalmette High School had been proposed as the site for FEMA’s Base Camp in the area.
The samples were analyzed for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Semi-volatile Organic Chemicals (SVOCs). A majority of the samples contained trace levels of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo(a)pyrene.
As a screening level risk assessment, EPA compared the results of the soil samples to Louisiana’s Risk Evaluation/Corrective Action Program (RECAP) residential soil standards. The levels of the compounds detected were below their respective RECAP values based on 30-year, residential exposure assumptions.
Based on this analysis, the site was found to be a suitable location for a FEMA Base Camp.
On October 13, 2005, contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected eight composite surface soil samples from the Montegut Middle School. These samples were analyzed for approximately 200 organic chemicals, including pesticides and oil and diesel range organics, and metals to characterize potential impacts from Hurricane Katrina.
The analytical results from these eight samples were compared to very conservative residential soil screening levels. For the most of the chemicals and metals other than arsenic, these levels are based on the 1 in 1,000,000 (10-6) risk of an individual developing cancer over a lifetime from exposure to those concentrations. Oil range organics and diesel range organics results were compared to Louisiana regulatory guidelines (RECAP) for oil and diesel spill cleanups. For arsenic, EPA used the Louisiana background concentration of 12 mg/kg for screening purposes.
The pesticide dieldrin was detected in 4 of the 8 samples collected at levels slightly higher than the residential screening levels but still at EPA's 10-6 risk level.
The oil range organic and diesel range concentrations detected in all of the samples were well below the Louisiana RECAP cleanup guidelines.
Metals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead, were detected in all of the samples collected at the school. None of the concentrations of metals detected in any of the samples were found to be higher than the residential screening levels used for this comparison. Arsenic concentrations were found at or below the Louisiana background concentration of 12 mg/kg in each of the samples.
Based on this analysis, the concentrations of chemical and metals found in the soil at the Montegut Middle School do not pose a health hazard that would restrict use of the property for any purpose.
Port Sulphur High School, Port Sulphur, LA
On October 13, 2005, EPA collected seven soil samples from the Port Sulphur High School athletic fields at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These samples were analyzed for approximately 200 organic chemicals, including pesticides, oil and diesel range organics, and metals to characterize potential impacts from Hurricane Katrina.
The analytical results from these eight samples were compared to very conservative residential soil screening levels. For the most of the chemicals and metals other than arsenic, these levels are based on the 1 in 1,000,000 risk of an individual developing cancer over a lifetime from exposure to those concentrations. Oil range organics and diesel range organics results were compared to Louisiana regulatory guidelines (RECAP) for oil and diesel spill cleanups. For arsenic, EPA used the Louisiana background concentration of 12 mg/kg for screening purposes.
EPA’s review of the data indicates that none of the 200 analytes were detected at concentrations above the conservative residential soil screening levels or the Louisiana background concentration for arsenic. Based on this analysis, the concentrations of chemical and metals found in the soil at the Port Sulphur High School do not pose a health hazard that would restrict use of the property.