Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Today, May 24th, DEQ issued a compliance order and notice of potential penalties to ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery as a result of an ongoing leak from a pipe that was and could still be releasing up to 24 tons of sulphur dioxide a day. The leak was first reported to DEQ on Wednesday, May 22, and was described as a small leak in the tail gas clean-up unit.

Breaking News: Assumption Parish officials are ordering an immediate evacuation of the Bayou Corne area, effective immediately, parish Police Jury President Marty Triche said Friday evening.

The “potential failiure” of an inactive and plugged Texas Brine Co. LLC salt-mining cavern is likely the cause of the "slurry area" and Gov. Jindal has declared a state of emergency.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality filed a Consolidated Compliance Order & Notice of Potential Penatly against ExxonMobil related to the June 14, 2012 release of 28,688lbs of Benzene.

When it rains it flares. Lightning from a thunderstorm yesterday led to an unusually large flare at Dow Chemical Co. in Plaquemine, LA. Local residents note that flaring during inclement weather happens all too often.

The numerous petro-chemical facilities in Louisiana's industrial corridor continue to put workers and the community at risk with accidental releases of toxic materials.

U.S. Senate voted against a resolution that would block the US EPA from enforcing its new standards for mercury and air toxics

The EPA has objected to Nucor's permits in response to petitions filed by Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, a company that owns a grain elevator next to the new plant site and who is concerned the air pollutants from the plant could harm the elevator's workers and contaminate the grain. Louisiana Environmental Action Network and Sierra Club also petitioned EPA to object to Nucor's permits but EPA will not address the issues raised in these petitions until LDEQ has resolved EPA's present objections.

The Relationship between the environment and the economy is positive, that is, improving the environment also improves the economy. States with good environments have better economies than those with polluted environments. For example, between 1988 and 1992 the pollution levels in Louisiana were cut in half because industry spent money to reduce its pollution and, at the same time, 25,000 jobs were created in the manufacturing sector alone. The industry spending was for equipment, so local business did better, and workers were hired to operate the equipment.People and business want to locate in clean environments and not in polluted areas. Once here people start new businesses and expand existing ones. By investing in protecting the environment we are investing in the economy and ultimately in the people of Louisiana

-Paul Templet
Former Secretary of LDEQ

Today the Environmental Protection Agency announced they issued Mercury and Air Toxics Standards(MATS) for Power Plants. The Standards cover air emissions of Mercury, Arsenic, Nickel, Selenium, Cyanide and Acid Gases from Power Plants.

The Environmental Protection Agency prepared separate "Watch List" for facilities in violation of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. According to the EPA, polluters on the "Watch Lists" may be serious or chronic offenders, alleged violators of regulations, and/or being tracked for compliance with a court order.

The latest "Watch Lists" available from the EPA are for September and October 2011. In September and October 2001, Louisiana had a total of 51 facilities on the Environmental Protection Agency "Watch List" for violations of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery (hazardous materials) Act.

Evaluation of EPA Air Monitoring Results from Venice, LA for the period of April 28, 2010 - May 7, 2010

by Wilma Subra

Hydrogen Sulfide

Odor Threshold for Hydrogen Sulfide: 0.5 ppb
Physical Reaction Symptoms: 5 to 10 ppb

Acute Physical Health Symptoms:
Irritates eyes
Irritates nose, throat and lungs
Nausea, dizziness, confusion, headache

Venice Hydrogen Sulfide Air Monitoring Results for the period of April 28, 2010 - May 7, 2010
Date:	Hydrogen Sulfide (parts per billion):
April 28	None Detected
April 29	No Data
April 30	No Data
May 1	No Data
May 2	30 ppb
May 3	1,192 ppb
May 4	46 ppb
May 5	1,010 ppb
May 6	1,000 ppb
May 7	280 ppb

The results of the Hydrogen Sulfide air monitoring in Venice indicates that the concentration from May 2 through May 7 exceeded the odor threshold and Physical Health Symptom concentrations. The Hydrogen Sulfide concentrations on May 3, 5 & 6 exceeded the Physical Reaction Symptoms concentrations by a factor of 100 to 120 times. The Physical Reaction Symptoms have been reported by individuals living and visiting in Venice.

Volatile Organic Chemicals

Louisiana Ambient Air Standards for Volatile Organic Chemicals:
a's environmental problems.