New task force takes closer look at air quality, pollution monitoring in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A new legislative task force is looking into ways the state and industry can better monitor air pollution.
The Community Air Monitoring and Notification Task Force was put together as a way for industry and advocacy groups to come together to talk about different methods and the cost of how to track any pollutants that are released into the air across communities in Louisiana.
Legislation recently passed that put limitations on local community monitoring of air pollutants. Groups like the Louisiana Environmental Action Network have invested in vehicles that travel along the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana to collect air samples. The newly passed law, backed by industry leaders, states that the community monitors must be Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality standards.
Save Louisiana: How we can protect the coast from erosion and help slow down hurricanes
The task force was formed with the LDEQ at the helm by state Sen. Cleo Fields who has been pushing for years for the oil, gas and chemical plants to install air monitors at the border of their property and to report the data to the public. Fields said in past hearings that the people in the area dubbed “Cancer Alley” should be in the know of what they are breathing.
“You don’t have that confidence unless you can verify what is going on and not just have self-reporting from the industry or from the plants,” said Kathy Wascom, the Legislative Liaison of Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
LEAN and the Clean Air Task Force are on the board as are the Department of Health, legislators, and representatives from the oil and gas and chemical industries.
“We at the Louisiana Chemical Association look forward to the opportunity to join the Air Monitoring Task Force, and we are grateful to be able to provide an industry perspective during these important conversations. It is crucial that community programs adhere to EPA and DEQ standards for air monitoring to ensure the collection of high-quality, reliable data. LCA continues to be committed to working closely with the communities served by our vital industry.”
Greg Bowsers, President and CEO of the Louisiana Chemical Association
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
BRProud Daily News
LDEQ already has a number of air monitors throughout the southern part of the state, but groups believe not enough is being done about plants that go over the allowed amount of chemicals in the air that surround mostly Black and low-income communities.
“Day to day breathing of the pollution from the facilities is what is needed now so they can know the impact of all the day to day pollution,” Wascom said.
The task force plans to meet at least two more times before they give their final report to the legislature in February.
Latest News
Majority of Democrats support Harris atop ticket in new survey
Mother of Southern University student speaks out, says his killing was unjustified
More women ending pregnancies themselves, some unsafely, new study suggests
‘Sweet Valley High’ books creator Francine Pascal dies at 92
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.