Air News Archives

Today, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued a penalty to ExxonMobil Corporation in the amount of $61,912.39 for violations associated with a June 14, 2012, steam-cracked naptha release at the Baton Rouge Complex. DEQ has also approved a proposed settlement agreement totaling $2,329,000 with ExxonMobil to resolve other violations which occurred between 2008-2013 at the Baton Rouge Refinery and three other facilities owned and/operated by ExxonMobil Corporation in the Baton Rouge area. The proposed settlement agreement must be public noticed and reviewed by the Attorney General's Office before it can be finalized.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's Enviroschool will host four free sessions on environmental regulation updates. The sessions will provide a review of some state and federal regulations and their implications. Included in the sessions will be help in understanding the delegation of authority to DEQ, how regulations govern the DEQ activities and processes and how the public can participate in the rule making process. The session will also include a review of any new regulatory changes resulting from of the recent legislative session.

DEQ placed second in the 2013 EnviroFlash Challenge by adding479 new subscribers from April 8 to May 31. Thirty agencies throughout the nation competed and recruited a total of 2,179 new subscribers nationwide.

Several organizations that work for cleaner air held a press conference at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality today to recognize Air Quality Awareness Month and to promote the Advance Program.May is Air Quality Awareness month, both nationally and in Louisiana. While the air quality in Louisiana is better than it has been since the implementation of the Clean Air Act, May is also traditionally the start of ozone season. DEQ is encouraging citizens to become familiar with the Air Quality Index, to understand what causes ozone formation and to take voluntary steps to help prevent the formation, further improve air quality and meet or continue to meet the current national air quality standards.

The Coast Guard, along with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and partner agencies, are responding to reports of an odor that was in the vicinity of New Orleans, Wednesday.

Today, investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality arrested an Evangeline Parish man for the alleged illegal burning of waste tires. Officers with the Basile Police Department originally responded to a burning complaint on March 8 at 2348 Guillory Street in Basile. The findings of that investigation were forwarded to DEQ's Criminal Investigation Division which led to the arrest.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Regional Planning Commission are seeking input from the public on air quality strategies to reduce ozone formation and maintain attainment with the national standards.

Seven teams participated in the 2013 Louisiana Envirothon Environmental Competition was held March 9 at the LSU AgCenter Burden Center in Baton Rouge. The teams participated in an environmental educational contest that consisted of testing at area stations in aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, the current issue, sustainable ranchland management and an oral presentation.