Russell Foster

the midst of raw sewage. In 2001, The EPA also found itself in trouble after declaring Ground Zero air clear, soon after the September 11th attacks. Local officials later heaped criticism on the EPA for that call. Even though the air was within normal limits, noxious dust coated buildings — and poorly protected cleaning crews were sent in to clean up that mess after the EPA’s all-clear. It’s also true that the early water tests might not end up telling the whole story, as the Los Angeles Times noted. “Environmental officials are also concerned that chemicals might be flowing off five Superfund sites — among the nation’s most hazardous dumpsites — near New Orleans. One Superfund site, the Agriculture Street landfill, remains underwater. A cleanup occurred there in 2000, but some residue remains and the EPA has not tried to assess whether contaminants have flowed off the site.” Once the Army Corps of Engineers turned its attention to pumping the grimy waters out of the city of New Orleans and into Lake Pontchartrain, many news reports speculated that body of water would be despoiled, as well. But, again, that’s not what actual data showed. A National Public Radio reporter followed along on a boat trip to monitor the lake. The scientists found bacteria in one plume in excess of swimming standards — but being diluted quickly in this vast body of water. “Bacteria weren’t the only concern, but so far, tests haven’t shown dangerous levels of toxic chemicals like oil products, pesticides or heavy metals. Also, the lake isn’t a lake at all, but a bay connected to the Gulf of Mexico. Over time, the contaminates will be flushed out into the Gulf,” the reporter said. It’s true that dilution is not the solution to pollution. But in this case, as logic would dictate, it certainly helped.