Hurricane debris and the environment: understanding impacts 3 years post- Katrina

Transcription

1 Hurricane debris and the environment: understanding impacts 3 years post- Katrina John H Pardue, LSU

2 Outline Review and analysis of system developed to handle debris Policy decisions and the role of science in those decisions Results of August 2008 GAO report Where we are 3 years later?

3 Hurricane Katrina was a devastating natural disaster for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This hurricane was especially devastating to the city of New Orleans, leaving behind the greatest recorded amount of disaster-related debris in U.S. history. I believe that the federal government has used taxpayer dollars to create one and most likely two soon-to-be Superfund sites in the city of New Orleans. Further, the federal government will have to use tax payer dollars to clean up these Superfund sites it has created. According to FEMA, through November 2007 the federal government has provided $3.4 billion for debris removal in Hurricane Katrina-impacted areas. It is projected that another $800 million will be needed.

4 Hurricane Katrina was a devastating natural disaster for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This hurricane was especially devastating to the city of New Orleans, leaving behind the greatest recorded amount of disaster-related debris in U.S. history. I believe that the federal government has used taxpayer dollars to create one and most likely two soon-to-be Superfund sites in the city of New Orleans. Further, the federal government will have to use tax payer dollars to clean up these Superfund sites it has created. According to FEMA, through November 2007 the federal government has provided $3.4 billion for debris removal in Hurricane Katrina-impacted areas. It is projected that another $800 million will be needed. U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) 2008 Press Release following GAO Report

5 Debris Handling System Housing contents to curbside by resident Environmental and disposal teams circulate through neighborhoods and remove visible wastes targeted for segregation Staging area followed by proper disposal [14.3 M lbs HHW 794,891 White goods 5 M orphan containers 940,000 e-waste] Remaining debris to C&D landfill Inspection at tower and by spotters assigned to landfill face Disposal

6 Staging Area Hazardous Substance Research Center

7 Staging Area Hazardous Substance Research Center

8 Debris System Activities

9 Old Gentilly Landfill Hazardous Substance Research Center LSU Hurricane Center

10 LDEQ Policy decisions: Speed of debris removal paramount (reduce travel distances, traffic, barrier to recovery) Utilize the closest landfills possible Relax asbestos regulations during demolition Preserve existing Type I landfill space Utilize Type III C&D landfills for debris disposal, no liner or leachate collection system. Relaxation of definitions of what constitutes C&D waste (i.e., allow furniture and carpet) Focus recycling efforts on certain well defined waste streams (White goods, e-waste, hazardous wastes, orphan containers, vegetation)

11 Analysis and critique of Katrina debrishandling system No diversion of arsenic-treated lumber Potential impacts: arsenic contamination of groundwater LWRRI White Paper Anticipating environmental problems in landfills in New Orleans East Quantities of Arsenic-Treated Wood in Demolition Debris Generated by Hurricane Katrina; B. Dubey, H. M. Solo-Gabriele, and Timothy G. Townsend; Environ. Sci. Technol.; 2007; 41(5) pp No diversion of wallboard Potential impacts: generation of H 2 S in landfill SWANA analysis of Katrina debris plan (2005) LWRRI White Paper

12 Analysis and critique of Katrina debrishandling system Inefficient household hazardous waste diversion Potential impacts: contamination of groundwater by HHW LWRRI White Paper Anticipating environmental problems in landfills in New Orleans East LSU pile sampling and air sampling Utilization of C&D landfills for disposal Potential impacts: groundwater contamination NISTAC (FEMA) Draft Report, 2006 Criticized by a very wide range of constituencies

13 The limiting factor is not capacity. It s hauling. 3,125,000, 1% Space Available in Permitted Landfills in New Orleans (Cubic Yards) Space Available After All Waste is Disposed 9,375,000, 4% 6,807,677, 3% 229,317,323, 92% Destroyed Houses (Post 1980: C&D Disposal if no Asbestos) Destroyed Houses (Pre-1980: Subtitle D Disposal Due to Asbestos) Hurricane Debris (C&D Disposal) Space Available at All Permitted Landfills in New Orleans

14 Science gaps in decision making: No data on hurricane debris composition Studies designed not allowed to execute Subsequently, no data on the efficiency on the diversion system No data on composition preventing assessment of enhanced recycling/reuse opportunities No advanced analysis on hauling, traffic or other aspects of the transportation system Impacts on environment 11 (upgradient and downgradient) groundwater monitoring wells at Old Gentilly (VOCs and metals) Surface water runoff (quarterly---limited parameter set) for all debris landfills

15 Very limited access to landfills themselves: A. B. C.

16 2008 GAO Report: Summarized the decisions and basis for decisions made by LDEQ (in collaboration with FEMA, EPA and USACE) Reported on progress from 7 recommendations made in the 2007 GAO report on Katrina (report progress on only 2) developing and implementing an expanded asbestos monitoring plan in the New Orleans area to provide monitoring at demolition sites providing more detailed guidance to state and local entities on managing debris disposal following disasters.

17 Progress 3 years later? LDEQ has a new debris management plan, EPA has new debris management guidance Chef Menteur landfill closed via protest through a local Vietnamese community now landfill filled with water Four semiannual data sets on groundwater impacts at Old Gentilly (no VOC hits, numerous metal hits) Data gaps continue, and science effectively shut out of process

18 3 Years Later: Chef Menteur Landfill

19 Progress 3 years later? LDEQ has a new debris management plan and EPA has new debris management guidance Chef Menteur landfill closed via protest through the local Vietnamese community now landfill filled with water Five quarterly data sets on groundwater impacts at Old Gentilly (no VOC hits, numerous metal hits) Data gaps continue, and science effectively shut out of process

20 Old Gentilly Results Maximum metal concentrations: As: 1.4 mg/l Zn: 6,850 mg/l Ni: 0.97 mg/l

21 Questions?? Results of policy decisions will be assessed through measurement of off-site impacts of contaminant releases