The Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) and Tribal Environmental News Exchange
Date Published:
9/1998
Description:
This issue provides updates to important events and initiatives that are of interest to our readers, including a message introducing OPPT Programs, EJP2 grants, a PCB cleanup case study in Standing Rock Sioux Nation, lead research in Indian Country and community interviews. On February 5, 1998, EPA received an urgent telephone call from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in
North Dakota about possible PCB contamination from leaking fluorescent light ballasts. The light ballasts
were located in the elementary school, administration building, high school library, and several Bureau of
Indian Affairs buildings on the reservation.
EPA confirmed that many of the buildings’ light fixtures did contain harmful PCBs, and many were leaking.
This posed a direct health threat to employees and children exposed to the hazardous materials. An interagency cleanup team was able to successsfully contain, remove, and ensure the safe disposal of PCB-contaminated materials. Team members also tested other areas for contamination, trained tribal staff to identify and test for PCBs, and ensured that fixtures containing PCBs were removed and replaced.
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