EnviroMapper For Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Residents of the New Orleans area concerned about environmental quality can access test data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) online. The EPA has launched, EnviroMapper for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The site combines interactive maps and aerial photography to geographically display test results from air, surface water, flood water and sediment sampling in the areas impacted by the hurricanes. Test Data from both flood waters and sediment are posted on the site. The EPA says that the database presents the most complete data set available.

The interactive map allows users to search a variety of fields. The EPA's test locations appear on a map of the area as green stars. A number of features can be toggled on or off from a menu bar on the right side. Users can chose from an atlas view, an aerial photo, or a topographic map, as a base map. Clicking on the star yields the testing date, the specific location and type of test, a list of pollutants found in the sample, the measured value of the pollutants, as well as a brief description of the pollutants.