Thirteen heavily contaminated former industrial zones in Texas, known as Superfund sites, were flooded or damaged by Hurricane Harvey, the US Environmental…
Thirteen heavily contaminated former industrial zones in Texas, known as Superfund sites, were flooded or damaged by Hurricane Harvey, the US Environmental Protection agency said.
The impact of flooding on the sites in unknown and EPA said its workers had not been able to safely access the sites but will do so once floodwaters recede.
“Teams are in place to investigate possible damage to these sites as soon as flood waters recede, and personnel are able to safely access the sites, ” the EPA said.
The agency’s statement came hours after the Associated Press published a report finding that seven Superfund sites in and around Houston had been inundated by floodwaters, in some cases many feet deep.
AP journalists used a boat to report the conditions of the flooded sites and accessed others by vehicle or foot. The EPA did not respond to the AP’s questions about why the agency’s personnel had not been able to survey the sites as well.
The EPA said its personnel would visit the San Jacinto Waste Pits site by boat on Monday. The Superfund site was completely covered in water when AP journalists saw it Thursday.
There are 41 Superfund sites in Texas, with more than a dozen in the Houston area, designated as being among America’s most contaminated places.
The announcement about the flooded sites came amid rising concerns regarding the health risks posed by Harvey floodwaters which include chemicals, oil and bacteria from Houston’s sewer system.
Threats to human health and wildlife due to the flooding of these sites varies wildly based on the contaminants involved, but there is a risk that floodwaters could transport and spread toxic materials over a larger area.
“If floodwaters have spread the chemicals in the waste pits, then dangerous chemicals like dioxin could be spread around the wider Houston area, ” said Kara Cook-Schultz who studies Superfund sites for advocacy group TexPIRG. “Superfund sites are known to be the most dangerous places in the country and they should have been properly protected against flooding.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a conference Saturday that he wanted the EPA “in town to address the situation.”
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has said that cleaning up Superfund sites are a top priority while also rolling back or delaying rules aimed at preventing air and water pollution.
