La. Dept. of Environmental Quality: More parishes to fail air

New Orleans CityBusiness, Mar 12, 2008

The number of parishes that fail to meet federal air quality standards will probably increase this week when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces a new, nationwide ozone standard.

Under the tighter guidelines, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John and St. Tammany parishes will fail to meet the new standards.

According to DEQ, some businesses may be required to have certain air permits that they were not required to have previously. Also, some businesses that want to expand may have to take extra measures or face new restrictions, DEQ said.

The number of parishes that fail to meet current standards fell from 20 in 1978 to five now. The current standard for ozone is 80 parts per billion on an eight-hour rotation scale.

But EPA is expected to change that level to 75 parts per billion, raising the number of parishes failing to meet the standards - also known as being "out of attainment" - to 26.

"This upcoming announcement does not mean that the air quality if suddenly worse than it was before the action," said Lou Buatt, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. "Some areas that will be classified as out of attainment will probably see some ramifications from this ruling. However, the air quality in Louisiana continues to improve, and the department will continues to work for better air quality no matter what the standard is."