Document jyOp8xKkG5JZy7gOwNoqraXBN

Message From: Sent: To: CC: Subject: Gray, David [/0=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=881C62BlE54142388ClDE2F8E3799C33-GRAY, DAVID] 9/1/2017 11:10:19 AM i Ex."6 1 I________________________________________________________________________________________ I Press [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=b293283291dc44eOb5dlc36be9281d8a-Press] FW: request for interview for JAMA news story on health risks from pollutants from refineries, chemical plants, etc, impacted by Hurricane Harvey Hi Mary Jane, Here is our latest update. David EPA has an organized emergency response program and is positioned to support FEMA, state, local and tribal partners. EPA Headquarters' Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated and Administrator Pruitt is in regular contact with EPA staff across the Agency who are part of this hurricane response effort. Helping manage response efforts and focusing on the safety of those affected are our highest priorities. As of today, EPA has activated the National incident Management Team (N-IMAT) consisting of highly skilled response personnel from Regions 3, 4, and 5. The N-IMAT arrived in Dallas this morning to assist with response activities. EPA has mobilized personnel to Austin, Houston and Corpus Christi in addition to providing response support in Dallas and Washington, DC. Currently, EPA has 98 employees dedicated to response activities and further deployments are happening daily. EPA field personnel are in Unified Command coordinating seven teams identifying and evaluating Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00026287-00001 potential hazards posed by orphaned containers. The teams will determine actions needed to stabilize or remove items. In concert with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, EPA has utilized a "call bank" to reach drinking water and waste water facilities to find out their operational status. To date, TCEQ and EPA have determined that 53 drinking water systems are not functioning due to loss of power or damage from the storm. Another 53 drinking water systems are compromised and running on generator power. A total of 22 waste water systems are shut down. Boil water orders have been issued as appropriate. Unified Command personnel inspected two Superfund sites in the Corpus Christi area. Both the Falcon Refinery Site and the Brine Service Site show no significant damage. No emergency clean up response for storm damage is needed at the two sites. EPA's ASPECT aircraft, which conducts air monitoring and provides real time chemical information instantaneously, was used at the Arkema Plant in Crosby, TX to inform first responders of potential air quality and thermal imaging concerns. The information collected indicates that there are no concentrations of concern for toxic materials reported at this time. EPA also deployed additional air monitoring teams and equipment to augment the current efforts of the state and local first responders. View Administrator Pruitt's statement on the reported explosion at the Arkema facility in Crosby here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa"statement-reported-explosion-chemical-plant-crosby-texas View EPA's joint statement with Texas officials responding to the Arkema incident here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/local-state-federaljoint-statement-texas-chemical-plant-fire Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00026287-00002 EPA also issued fuel waivers for 38 states and Washington, D.G. today to help ensure an adequate supply of fuel throughout the country in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Learn more here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-approves-emergency-fuelwaivers-33-states~and~washington-dc~0 From: Mary Jane Friedrich [mailt:o:j_________ Ex. 6_________ j Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 4:46 PM To: Gray, David <grav.david@epa.gov> Subject: request for interview for JAMA news story on health risks from pollutants from refineries, chemical plants, etc, impacted by Hurricane Harvey Hi Dr. I am a freelance medical writer for JAMA and am working on a news story for the Medical News and Perspectives section of the journal on the health risks from pollutants from refineries, chemical plants, Superfund sites, and wastewater treatment plants that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Would you or another expert be available for a phone interview over the next week or so? I am also very interested in what efforts have been taken toward preventing or minimizing these public health threats. I anticipate that the phone interview would take about 15 minutes, or perhaps a bit longer if possible. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for considering my request. Best regards, Mary Jane Friedrich JAMA Medical News and Perspectives Chicago, IL 60610 Home office: ....Ex. 6....1 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00026287-00003