(The Center Square) – Legislators met Tuesday to hear the negative effects of air pollution and the importance of real-time air quality monitoring systems.
Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality gave their presentation on this issue during a Community Air Monitoring and Notification Task Force meeting.
First, Giacometto cited the reason why their department is committed to these studies. Senate Bill 35, which was passed only a year ago, requires monitoring systems that provide instantaneous reporting in certain facilities. Certain facilities are designated as Title V, meaning a station with major sources of emissions.
There are 476 such buildings in the state, but some of those are bakeries, car washes and other structures that don’t emit toxic air waste. Officials conducted studies individually and assured the task that should not factor into their decision.
Also, the Louisiana Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act signed by Gov. Jeff Landry earlier this year required the department to collect data on pollutants in the state to better understand the issue. The pollutants officials are concerned are sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other airborne particulate matter.
Many of these pollutants can cause cancer or other serious long term health effects, but the department is still researching how long it would take and how much exposure to the chemical would cause such illnesses.
A written report on the timeline of such illnesses must be given by the department to the Legislature no later than Feb. 15.
Although the department says further research is needed to quantify the health costs associated with these pollutants, they also suggested different regulatory monitors the state can require and maintain to ensure SB 35 is fulfilled.
There are two types of air monitoring systems. There are air sensors, which are like fire alarms for toxic air. These are less costly but have a higher detection threshold and don’t give a high confidence reading. On the other hand are regulatory monitors, which are the opposite in that they are expensive but very effective.
This type of system would cost $5.2 million for initial setup, licensing and maintenance. These systems would cost $800,000 in equipment, and $150,000 in operating and maintenance costs per site annually.
It would be an additional $5 million to hook it up to an amber alert style system that notifies residents in case of a toxic emission leak. The department would also need about $8.2 million to fill an additional 48 positions needed to provide checkups on these systems.