oEPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Summary of Actions

Mossville Community



Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

October 2010

The community of Mossville is situated in an
unincorporated area near the cities of Lake Charles,
Westlake and Sulphur, Louisiana. The EPA has
worked with the community of Mossville and the
Mossville Environmental Action Now (MEAN)
group since 1997 regarding a number of
environmental and public health, as well as other
environmental justice concerns in the community.
MEAN and the Advocates for Environmental
Human Rights (AEHR) published a report by Subra
Company in July 2007 that criticized the work done
by ATSDR and EPA, utilizing Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI) data to link industrial releases to
exposure in the Mossville community. In May
2009, MEAN published a health survey of 69
individuals living in Mossville. This report
discusses possible links between health outcomes
and industrial releases. In March 2010 the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights accepted a
human rights complaint filed by AEHR on behalf of
people living in Mossville, Louisiana.

In response to concerns expressed by the Mossville
community, the EPA committed to the following
actions:

>	investigate the long term legacy of
contamination;

>	conduct an assessment of Mossville's
drinking water system;

>	work with the state and industries to limit
the occurrences of flaring and accidental
releases;

>	work with the community and ATSDR to
address health concerns, and access to health
care; and

>	improve awareness and availability of data
and information.

The EPA is working with numerous community
representatives and state and federal agencies to
make significant strides toward completing these
actions. To date, the Agency:

>	completed a Superfund Preliminary Assess-
ment, February 2010, and collected samples
from soil and tap water, April and August
2010.

>	conducted a comprehensive evaluation of
the Mossville water system, April 2010; and
preliminary results that the water is safe to
drink and that the water system needs up-
grading were shared with the community,
August 2010.

>	completed Risk Management Plan inspec-
tions at PPG Industries, Inc., Conoco-
Phillips Refinery, Louisiana Pigment, Cal-
casieu Refining Company, Westlake Petro-
chemical, Sasol, and Firestone in 2010.
(Deficiencies have been identified and en-
forcement actions are anticipated)

In addition, ATSDR reached out to the community
through a health promotion campaign. The cam-
paign entitled, "Its All About Your Health," was
conducted in Mossville from March 13 - April 10,
2010. ATSDR also is working with the community
to provide other consulting and educational services
available through the American College of Medical
Toxicology and the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA). On August 21, 2010,
ATSDR presented and discussed options and cost
for access to health care with the community.

EPA continues to work with the Mossville commu-
nity to honor the Agency's commitments. To help
the community become healthier and more sustain-
able, the Agency created a comprehensive ap-
proach, consisting of the following four focus areas:

>

Improve Access to Healthcare - Develop a
partnership with industry and Community
Based Organizations (CBO's) to improve


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access to health care for industrial workers

perform air monitoring to document the safe

and for the community.

operations of the facilities.

> Secure Safe, Clean and Viable Drinking

> Determine the Sustainabilitv of the Moss-

Water - Develop a program to improve

ville Communitv - Determine the interest

access to safe drinking water. The Moss-

and develop support for an expansion of

ville Comprehensive Water System Evalua-

green-space or a buffer zone around the in-

tion uncovered some issues that require

dustry to afford residents the opportunity to

administrative, fiscal and operational im-

sell their property.

provements. For example, additional opera-



tors are needed to assist with the day to day

EPA will review information and revise its ap-

operations.

proach from time to time, as deemed necessary, to



ensure the community's concerns are being effec-

> Ensure Safe Air Oualitv - Partner with in-

tively addressed through a holistic, multimedia

dustry and the state to facilitate better com-

approach.

munications at the Local Emergency



Planning Committee (LEPC) level and to





George Pettigrew

For more information...

ATSDR (6SF-T)



214.665.8361 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free)

Sam Coleman, Director



Superfund Division

Information Repository

214.665.3110 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free)

McNeese University



Frazar Memorial Library

Brenda Cook, Site Assessment Manager

Government Document Department/4th Floor

U.S. EPA (6SF-TR)

4205 Ryan Street

214.665.7436 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free)

Lake Charles, LA 70609



337.475.5740

Bill Little, Community Involvement Coordinator/SEE



U.S. EPA (6SF-VO)

To have your name and address added to the Mossville

214.665.8131 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free)

site mailing list call 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free).



For press inquiries, please contact the Region 6 Press



Office at 214.665.2200.


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