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Thursday, July 1, 2010

[MedicalConspiracies] EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico



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Subject: Re: [apfn-1] RED ALERT 4 CANADA AND UNITED STATES EAST COAST
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 03:38:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: BOB ROSE <torosh@swbell.net>
To: apfn-1@yahoogroups.com
CC: GrannieFox@gmail.com
Try this: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/qanda.html


EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Questions and Answers about the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast

On this page:

Dispersant Use in BP Oil Spill

EPA's Response

What sampling is EPA doing along the beaches?
EPA is currently collecting and analyzing water and sediment samples to help states and other federal agencies understand the immediate and long-term impacts of oil contamination along the Gulf coast and to ensure that residents in affected areas have access to information about the quality of their water. The results and the interpretation of all data collected by EPA will be posted to www.epa.gov/bpspill as often as it is available.

Water and sediment samples are being taken prior to oil reaching the area to determine water quality and sediment conditions that are typical of selected bays and beaches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. This data will be used to supplement existing data generated from previous water quality surveys conducted by states, EPA, and others.

Water sampling will continue once the oil reaches the shore; periodic samples will be collected to document water quality changes. EPA will make data publicly available as quickly as possible. Other state and federal agencies make beach closure and seafood harvesting and consumption determinations, but the data generated by EPA will assist in their evaluations.

What is EPA doing to protect people and the environment along the Gulf Coast from risks associated with the BP Oil Spill?
We are doing both real time monitoring and sampling to study the environmental and health conditions in the Gulf. 

EPA is monitoring the air for any chemicals or compounds that may be in the air as a result of the oil spill or from the controlled burn to manage the spill.  We are monitoring the air in real time for particulate matter as well as taking more specific chemical measurements for volatile organic compounds that require lab analysis. Real time monitoring lets us know of any immediate risks to human health and the environment, and tells us where we need to focus our sampling efforts.  If immediate risks are identified, we will provide advisories to the public with information about what they should do.

We are sampling the water to look at impacts from the oil spill on the Gulf ecosystem and sampling the surface water to assess water safety for recreational use. 

We are sampling the air, water and coastal sediment to assess the impact of the oil spill on the affected ecosystems. Samples can take time to process, usually about 3-4 days.  Sampling data will provide specific information about the pollutants and will be used to help guide the response and cleanup.

How are you preparing as EPA's role intensifies?
Already, EPA is working with local, state and federal response partners to monitor the air and water in the area.  We will also mobilize additional sampling equipment as needed.  Our goal is to ensure that the air and water are monitored carefully and we are examining baseline coastal conditions of surface water to assess their safety. 

In addition, we are working hard to keep communities informed.  We are working to make our sampling and monitoring data available as quickly as possible. For more information see below.

We know that EPA's role will only increase as the incident develops and we are actively preparing.  Please continue to monitor local news stations and our web site for the most up to date information. 

When can I see data?
While EPA is taking daily samples, it takes several days to process them and assure their quality at a certified lab. It usually takes about four days to get results on the samples.

During emergency situations the agency works to expedite this process as much as possible. As soon as EPA has the results ready they will be posted for the public on this site. EPA is also coordinating with the data collection efforts of Gulf Coast states and this data is being incorporated into EPA's analysis and results also to be posted here. Up to date air quality information (particulate matter and ozone) for the Gulf coast states is also available to the public through EPA's National Air Now program.

How often will there be new data?
It depends on the type of data. As noted above, real time particulate matter data is available now for public viewing at http://gulfcoast.airnowtech.org. Data requiring lab analyses will posted as soon as possible after analysis is complete. Again, this could be up to 3-5 days

Data will be posted to the following pages:
  • Air
  • Water
  • Sediment

    What does it mean when a result is listed as "ND?" 
    ND (non-detect) indicates that the pollutant that the monitoring equipment was sampling for was either not detected or that the levels were too low to reliably determine the concentration.

How does the declaration of nationally significant spill help us?
Once designated a Spill of National Significance, the Federal Government is able to designate greater resources to the incident, its cleanup and its recovery.

Why isn't EPA the lead for this environmental disaster?
Typically for off shore environmental incidents the U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency for a response. As this oil slick approaches and reaches the shoreline, EPA has been preparing to ramp up its efforts as necessary to respond to a broad range of environmental impacts.

Does EPA have sufficient financial resources to fund response efforts?
As the responsible party, BP is required (by the 1990 Oil Pollution Act) to fund the cost of the response and cleanup operations.  The administration will be aggressive in its response and it will use all of its available resources.

I've heard that EPA would stop the burning of oil if elevated levels of pollution occur? When would EPA stop the burning? 
EPA is consistently monitoring the air quality and any emissions from burning oil.  If there are elevated levels of harmful air pollution detected, then EPA will take any and all appropriate steps to protect public health.

What is EPA planning to do if and when the oil hits the shore?
EPA will continue to support the response as necessary.  There are a variety of response options depending on the impact to the shoreline. 

How do I know if the air/water around me is safe? 
The results of EPA's sampling efforts will be posted at www.epa.gov/bpspill and will make recommendations for the public to take based upon the results of our environmental monitoring.

Should I consume local (Louisiana) fish, oysters or seafood? 
At sunset on April 30, 2010, the State of Louisiana closed the molluscan shellfish beds in growing areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to harvest.  Product harvested before this ban went into effect should be safe from oil contamination.  The closure is a precautionary measure taken because of the possible adverse environmental effects of the oil spill in the area..  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service will continue to monitor the situation and notify the public if any problem is detected with seafood from this area of the country.

How are commercial fisheries regulated to ensure our food is okay? 
FDA operates a mandatory safety program for all fish and fishery products under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, and related regulations.  The FDA program includes research, inspection, compliance, enforcement, outreach and the development of regulations and industry guidance.

NOAA has the authority to close Federal waters to prevent harvesting and states have the authority to close waters within the state 3-mile limit.  FDA is working with both NOAA and the states to monitor the situation and ensure that appropriate closures are in place as needed.  If, despite these steps, adulterated seafood is found on the market, both FDA and the states have the authority to seize such product. 

Is Gulf of Mexico seafood safe to eat? 
Louisiana has closed some areas to seafood harvesting based on the movement and direction of the oil. The US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the situation with the states and with NOAA and will notify the public if any problems are detected with the shrimp or other seafood products in the area. As of June 4 FDA states "There is no reason to believe that any contaminated product has made its way to the market."

For more information:

Top of page

Air Quality Concerns

When did EPA start monitoring air quality in the Gulf states?
EPA responders were on the ground with portable monitoring devices starting on April 28th.  EPA's twin engine aircraft, ASPECT, was deployed on April 29th to collect air sampling data and provide aerial photographs of the migrating oil slick.  EPA began oil spill specific air monitoring from our TAGA buses on April 30th.

We began water sampling on April 30th and results from water sampling are typically available four days after sample collection. We began coastal sediment sampling on April 30th and results from sediment sampling are typically available several days after sample collection. EPA is closely coordinating with the air monitoring efforts ongoing in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Why is EPA monitoring and sampling the air?
We are sampling the air for vapors that may evaporate from the water/oil mixture in the Gulf as well as for particulate matter that may result from the smoke generated by the controlled burns when they restart.  We are tracking the levels of particulate matter and Volatile Organic Compounds chemicals closely. 

What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution or PM, is a mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.

The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. EPA is screening for PM that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller because those are the particles that generally pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs.  We are not monitoring for PM larger than 10 micrometers because this particle size is generally too large to inhale.

Why is burning the oil slick a good idea?
Controlled burning is one of several techniques that may be used to minimize the consequences of an oil spill by consuming the oil and removing it from the water.

Controlled burn operations will not affect other response activities such as on-water skimming, dispersant application, and subsurface wellhead intervention operations. No populated areas are expected to be affected by the burn operations and there are no anticipated impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles.

Weather, wind, and water conditions are considered and safe distances are adhered to at all times.  Before specially-trained crews ignite the oil, the team performs pre-ignition checks that include communications and safe equipment position verification.  The oil is monitored throughout the burn. If any concerns arise, the burn can be immediately terminated.

I live close to the Gulf Coast, what will I notice?
The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf could cause an odor similar to that of a gas station for communities along the affected coast. 

Is the odor bad for my health? 
This odor may cause symptoms such as headaches or nausea. For your own comfort, limit your exposure to the odor by staying indoors.  To the extent possible, close windows and doors, turn your air conditioner on and set to a recirculation mode.  If you are experiencing severe incidents of nausea or other medical issues, please seek care as soon as possible. View more information about odors from the spill.

What if the odor gets worse? 
Wind and weather will play a role in the strength of the odors.  Please stay tuned to your local news stations and newspapers for further information.  The gas station-like odor can persist for days and can vary according to wind or weather conditions. You will be notified to take additional precautions if federal and state agencies learn of worsening conditions. View more information about odors from the spill.

What is causing the odor? 
The odor you may smell contains the same chemicals as the gas you use to fill your car. These chemicals are classified as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), specifically:  benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and naphthalene.  These VOCs can be smelled at levels well below those that would cause health problems.  View more information about odors from the spill.

What is EPA doing to monitor the air?
EPA is working around to clock to monitor air quality and keep communities informed.  There are currently five active air monitoring systems stationed along the Gulf Coast.

  1. EPA has brought in two mobile air monitoring buses equipped with Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzers, or TAGAs, for instant-result air monitoring.  The TAGA Vans will be monitoring the odors as well as other volatile compounds.
  2. EPA responders on the ground have portable equipment that can detect any spikes in the levels of odor-causing compounds. 
  3. EPA's twin engine aircraft, ASPECT, was also deployed to collect air sampling data, specifically tasked to detect the presence of increased odors and sulfur dioxide resulting from the oil spill.
  4. The state of Louisiana put additional monitors in place in recent days to further monitor the chemical levels in the air.
  5. The Gulf Coast states have permanent stationary air monitors that are working to monitor general air quality. During the response to the BP Spill, these monitoring stations will detect possible emissions of pollution from the fires associated with burning off the oil spill.

Top of page

Drinking Water

Is my water safe to drink?
The oil spill is not currently expected to affect drinking water. The closest drinking water intake in use in Southeastern Louisiana on the Mississippi River is 49 miles upstream from the mouth of the river. The oil is not expect to migrate that far upstream. If you have any concerns about your water, contact your water utility.

Will my private well be impacted by the oil spill?
No.  The oil sheen is not expected to impact domestic wells.

How will I know if my water isn't safe to drink?
Your water supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV, or hand-delivery if your water doesn't meet EPA or state standards or if there is a waterborne disease emergency. The notice will describe any precautions you need to take, such as boiling your water. Follow the advice of your water supplier if you ever receive such a notice.

My water tastes or smells different.  What should I do?
If you have any concerns about your water, you should contact your water supplier.  The oil spill is not expected to affect drinking water. If your water supply does not meet EPA or state standards your water supplier must notify you by newspaper, mail, radio, TV, or hand-delivery.

You can contact the Joint Information Center, or JIC, located in the heart of the response effort. The JIC is a coordination center for federal, state and local responding agencies. You may call the JIC at 985-902-5231.

Top of page

Water

Why is EPA sampling and monitoring the water?
EPA is tracking the prevalence of potentially harmful chemicals in the water as a result of this spill to determine the level of risk posed to fish and other wildlife. While these chemicals can impact ecosystems, drinking water supplies are not expected to be affected.

The oil itself can cause direct effects on fish and wildlife, for example when it coats the feathers of waterfowl and other types of birds. In addition, other chemical compounds can have detrimental effects. Monitoring information allows EPA to estimate the amount of these compounds that may reach ecological systems. When combined with available information on the toxicity of these compounds, EPA scientists can estimate the likely magnitude of effects on fish, wildlife, and human health.

Top of page

What do I do for more information?

How can I help?
At this stage the federal government and BP are leading response efforts.  You can suggest technology solutions at our website http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/techsolution.htmland request volunteer information by calling 1-866-448-5816).  Stay tuned for updates on opportunities to assist in cleanup and community support efforts.

How can I report an oil sighting?
Report oiled shoreline at: 1-866-448-5816
Report oiled wildlife at: 1-866-557-1401
Discuss spill related damage at: 1-800-440-0858

Who do I call for other questions?
You can contact the Joint Information Center, or JIC, located in the heart of the response effort. The JIC is a coordination center for federal, state and local responding agencies. You may call the JIC at 985-902-5231.

To report an odor please call - 1-866-448-5816

Where can I find environmental data? What information will I find there?
EPA will be posting the latest environmental information and data as it becomes available through our responders and equipment on the EPA website. We're posting air data,water data, and sediment data.

Where can I find more information? 
The best resources to use at this time will be found at: 
Joint Federal Website about the BP Oil Spill
NOAA Office of Response and Restoration 
NASA Satellite Imagery Keeping Eye on the Gulf Oil Spill


Posted by Medical at 10:04 AM

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