HURRICANE UNIFIED COMMAND
Iberia Parish

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LOUISIANA
October 2006
Completion Report
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ATAGUNCE
8
Drinking Water Plant
Assessments
21
Wastewater Facility
Assessments
25
Industry Damage
Assessments*
56,224
Hazardous Materials
Containers Collected*
1,180
Electronic Items
Collected*
13,488
Pounds of
Ammunition/Explosives
Collected*
376,728
Pounds of Cumulative
Waste Disposed
36
School Lab Assessments
Since September 2005, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Louisiana Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ) have worked together to
address environmental hazards
from Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita to help Iberia Parish
recover.
One of EPA and LDEQ's first
priorities was to ensure resi-
dents returning to all the cities
affected by the hurricanes had
safe drinking water. Through-
out Louisiana, assessments
were conducted at drinking
water facilities, of which 8 were
in Iberia Parish. Similarly, 21
wastewater treatment plants
were assessed for damage.
Next, EPA and LDEQ turned to
federally-permitted facilities.
The agencies conducted inter-
views and site visits at hazard-
ous waste storage, transfer or
disposal facilities , During this
time, facilities in southern Louisiana were addressed, including 25
Iberia Parish
facilities in Iberia Parish. The site visits and interviews established
that employees could return to work at facilities operating in accor-
dance with federal and state regulations.
Because of concerns that damaged chemicals in school biology and
chemistry laboratories could cause a health hazard, EPA and LDEQ
conducted assessments at schools in southern Louisiana. Some
chemical containers were found to be damaged by the hurricanes, by
fiood waters and/or from heat exposure. EPA and LDEQ, in coordina-
tion with the Louisiana State Police and local fire departments, re-
moved dangerous chemicals from schools in southern Louisiana.
Thirty-six schools in Iberia Parish were assessed: chemicals were
removed from eight of them.
Paint and computers in homes under normal circumstances are not
usually considered hazardous. However, when hundreds of thou-
sands of these items become waste products at the same time, the
hazardous components in them could create problems. To help re-
move these materials from the waste going to Louisiana's municipal
landfills, EPA and LDEQ collected 58,404 units consisting of appli-
ances, hazardous waste containers, and home electronics. The haz-
ardous materials were recycled or disposed in landfills designed to
handle them safely. In Iberia Parish, EPA and LDEQ disposed of
376,728 pounds of waste as of September 30, 2006.
In response to community concerns about potential harm from fire
arms, ammunition and explosives, EPA began collecting these mate-
rials for appropriate disposal in January 2006. As of September 30,
2006, in southwest and south-central Louisiana, 224 firearms and
13,488 pounds of ammunition, explosives, fireworks and other simi-
lar items were collected.
Left: EPA assessing a wastewater facility for damage.
* Reflects more than Iberia Parish Activities.

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