EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Joins Bipartisan North Carolina Leaders to Support Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts | US EPA
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Joins Bipartisan North Carolina Leaders to Support Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts U.S. EPA.gov
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EPA Administrator Assesses Recovery Efforts in Asheville, North Carolina
October 11, 2024
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Yesterday, October 10, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan joined North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Senator Thom Tillis, Congressman Chuck Edwards, Asheville Mayor Esther E. Manheimer and local officials in Asheville, North Carolina, to assess federal and state recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Helene. The Administrator’s visit reinforced the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing support for communities affected by Hurricane Helene, with a focus on the work to restore access to safe, clean drinking water in impacted communities.
EPA Administrator’s Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
“Together with our federal and state partners here in North Carolina, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to restoring essential services for the communities affected by Hurricane Helene as soon as possible,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA is on the ground in full force to ensure that everyone has access to safe, reliable drinking water, while supporting other state-led efforts to pick up the pieces and rebuild. As President Biden has made clear, we will continue to be here for as long as it takes.”
Operational Sites Visited
The day’s tour included key operational sites, beginning at the EPA Mobile Command Center in Lake Junaluska. The command center serves as a hub for directing on-the-ground response activities and coordinating field data to assist local decision-makers.
Administrator Regan also visited the EPA Mobile Drinking Water Lab in Asheville, an ISO-accredited lab essential for providing rapid drinking water analyses. Capable of testing 100 samples per day, the lab supports swift recovery by confirming water safety for communities impacted by the storm. EPA is encouraging residents with private wells to reach out to local and state health officials for testing kits, with EPA standing by to run tests and provide confidence in these drinking water sources.
The visit concluded at the North Fork Water Treatment Plant, where Administrator Regan joined Governor Cooper, Senator Tillis, Congressman Edwards and other officials to tour the facility’s progress in getting back online and answer questions from reporters. The plant, critical to Asheville’s water infrastructure, is receiving expert EPA technical assistance to expedite restoration efforts.
EPA’s Ongoing Efforts to Support Sustainable Development Goals
EPA encourages residents to prioritize safety, adhere to local advisories, and stay updated on recovery information through official channels.
EPA’s ongoing efforts to support recovery from Hurricane Helene include:
- Monitoring Water Quality: EPA teams are actively working with local agencies to monitor water quality in affected areas. Mobile water labs are deployed to test for contaminants, enabling rapid analysis and guiding advisories for the public. Since the beginning of October, EPA, its state partners and local utilities have made significant progress bringing drinking water and wastewater systems back online, including restoring service to more than 75 drinking water systems that serve approximately 260,000 people in the Asheville area.
- Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Support: EPA is coordinating with state environmental protection authorities to ensure the safe disposal of storm debris and the identification of hazardous substances to prevent contamination. Since clean-up efforts began, EPA has collected more than 500 containers with oil, hazardous materials, or propane.
- Technical Assistance for Infrastructure Recovery: EPA personnel are offering technical guidance to local water operators, supporting efforts to restore and maintain drinking water systems and other essential services safely.
- Public Health Protection Measures: In collaboration with CDC guidance and local health authorities, EPA is helping to advise residents on precautions to prevent waterborne illnesses, emphasizing the importance of following local boil water advisories and staying informed through local health updates.
For more information on EPA’s ongoing Hurricane Helene response efforts visit EPA’s Hurricane Helene Response landing page.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
- SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
- SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
- SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
- Monitoring water quality in affected areas
- Testing for contaminants in water
- Restoring service to drinking water systems
- Coordinating with state environmental protection authorities for waste management and hazardous waste support
- Offering technical guidance to local water operators for infrastructure recovery
- Advising residents on precautions to prevent waterborne illnesses
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | – Restoring service to more than 75 drinking water systems that serve approximately 260,000 people in the Asheville area. |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. | – Monitoring water quality in affected areas – Testing for contaminants in water |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. | – Coordinating with state environmental protection authorities for waste management and hazardous waste support |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Coordinating with state environmental protection authorities for waste management and hazardous waste support |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | – Offering technical guidance to local water operators for infrastructure recovery – Advising residents on precautions to prevent waterborne illnesses |
Source: epa.gov
