"Lessons Learned" from the Houston Ship Channel should guide the State of Louisiana to build back better in the International Terminaling sector: to avoid mistakes, avoid adverse public health outcomes, and select the more protective, environmental options.
Similar to Houton’s port facilities, pollution issues with the Port of New Orleans proposed project in St Bernard Parish would be compounded by the surrounding cumulative air toxins from two oil refineries, a calciner, and other heavily industrialized plants, and “by lax enforcement of pollution regulations by state and federal agencies and lack of real zoning laws. Existing zoning laws allow industrial facilities to be located in proximity to homes”, directly resulting in residents, including elementary school children, breathing in toxic air pollutants. St Bernard Parish is clearly already a disproportionately burdened community.
One only needs to look at the Houston Ship Channel to know the air toxins from the Port of New Orleans proposed project are unmitigable and the devastating public health outcomes unavoidable. These pollution concerns can not be “addressed” or “taken care of” by claiming compliance with EPA regulations or even with use of any of the future new truck fuels and cargo moving equipment. Residents would still carry the disproportionate share of burdens, including shortened lifespans and other lifelong health outcomes. That is not – under any scenario – a reasonable balance.
The State of Louisiana has many other options available to modernize port facilities in a 'post Panamax' world. Louisiana should look towards the options in the International Terminaling sector that are more aligned with the future of global shipping and more protective of the human habitat. These options tend to be more economical as well.
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/air-pollution-houston-ship-channel-ib.pdf
TOXIC AIR POLLUTION IN THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL: DISPARITIES SHOW URGENT NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE By Yukyan Lam, Ramya Sivasubramanian, and Marisa Guerrero (NRDC); Juan Parras and Ana Parras (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services)
Recommendations from this NRDC study included #3. Regulatory agencies at all levels should prioritize pollution monitoring and enforcement in disproportionately burdened communities.
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