Budget Considerations

According to a Together Baton Rouge  Report's ITEP Search Tool , the industrial tax exemptions in St Bernard Parish could afford us to keep our fire stations open. Our budgets might change such that we could also give our school board employees and teachers a long awaited pay raise, and continue to fully fund all of our parish pension’s obligations, without being asked for more sales and property taxes.

We could fund drinking water improvements, along with improvements to roads and bridges, pedestrian cross walks, fishing piers, drainage and sewerage improvements, grass cutting and canal maintenance, books for our libraries, art and stem initiatives, recycling and composting, farm to table initiatives, bicycle and walking paths, public transportation, healthcare access, workforce development, free adult lifetime learning courses, senior citizen outreach, parks and recreation programs, criminal justice reforms and re-entry programs, affordable housing, and on and on.

Instead of increasing property tax mileages, those dollars from exemptions could fully fund the intended municipal services. Instead of the Lake Borgne Basin Levee District refusing to do their job because residents voted down a tax increase, the LBBLD property tax mileage could be lowered, while increasing services. https://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2018/07/st_bernard_doesnt_have_to_acce.html

Some of the other tax dollars which we do pay are used to fund projects like the St Bernard Economic Development board which seeks to place a container yard in the N P Trist Middle School neighborhood, and its operator, Port of Orleans, would not pay property taxes.  https://canthecontainers.com/

Come on St Bernard, we can do better than this. Our community would also benefit if more and more parish workers and school board employees returned from the north shore and actually lived in St Bernard Parish and contributed to our economy base. The public sector in St Bernard Parish is said to be the larger employer: fire department, sheriff department, school board and teachers, parish government workers, public works employees, state judicial court, justice of peace, constables, lake borgne basin levee employees, St Bernard Port, St Bernard Parish Hospital, etc. And then there are all the out of parish (sometimes out of state) workers at the large industrialized plants which are the benefactors of all these exemptions. Our community would benefit greatly if the majority of all these jobs were actually domiciled jobs.

Here’s a partial list of St Bernard Parish exemptions according to the report, and the number of actual jobs loss or created by these costly subsidies:

American Sugar Refining Inc. | (St Bernard)

7415 Peters Road
Arabi, LA 70032

# exemptions: 15

# of years with ITEP (of last 20): 19

1st year receiving ITEP (post-1997): 1999

Most recent year receiving ITEP: 2014

COST OF EXEMPTIONS:  $5.7 M

NEW JOBS PROJECTED: 35

ACTUAL JOBS RESULT: -110

SUBSIDY PER JOB: $5,716,632 for a loss of 110 jobs

Year 1 of ITEP, # of jobs: 446

Most recent year, # of jobs: 336

PARISH SUBSIDY RANK: 3

STATE SUBSIDY RANK: 244

TYPE: Company

Rain CII Carbon, LLC | (St Bernard)

700 Coke Plant Rd
Chalmette, LA 70043

# exemptions: 19

# of years with ITEP (of last 20): 18

1st year receiving ITEP (post-1997): 2000

Most recent year receiving ITEP: 2016

COST OF EXEMPTIONS:  $4.8 M

NEW JOBS PROJECTED: 10

ACTUAL JOBS RESULT: 1

SUBSIDY PER JOB: $4,771,185 per job created

Year 1 of ITEP, # of jobs: 36

Most recent year, # of jobs: 37

PARISH SUBSIDY RANK: 4

STATE SUBSIDY RANK: 262

TYPE: Company

PBF Holding Company, LLC | (St Bernard) (dba Chalmette Refining)

500 W Saint Bernard Hwy
Chalmette, LA 70043

# exemptions: 57

# of years with ITEP (of last 20): 19

1st year receiving ITEP (post-1997): 1999

Most recent year receiving ITEP: 2017

COST OF EXEMPTIONS:  $115.3 M

NEW JOBS PROJECTED: 60

ACTUAL JOBS RESULT: -71

SUBSIDY PER JOB: $115,320,991 for a loss of 71 jobs

Year 1 of ITEP, # of jobs: 570

Most recent year, # of jobs: 499

PARISH SUBSIDY RANK: 1

STATE SUBSIDY RANK: 33

TYPE: Company

Valero Refining - Meraux LLC | (St Bernard)

2500 E Saint Bernard Hwy
Meraux, LA 70075

# exemptions: 4

# of years with ITEP (of last 20): 14

1st year receiving ITEP (post-1997): 2004

Most recent year receiving ITEP: 2015

COST OF EXEMPTIONS:  $88.7 M

NEW JOBS PROJECTED: 21

ACTUAL JOBS RESULT: 41

SUBSIDY PER JOB: $2,163,844 per job created

Year 1 of ITEP, # of jobs: 236

Most recent year, # of jobs: 277

PARISH SUBSIDY RANK: 2

STATE SUBSIDY RANK: 42

TYPE: Company

St Bernard: Parish Report

St Bernard Parish, LA

# exemptions: 119

# companies receiving ITEPs: 10

COST OF EXEMPTIONS:  $221.3 M

NEW JOBS PROJECTED: 293

ACTUAL JOBS RESULT: loss of 408 jobs

SUBSIDY PER JOB: $221.3 M for a loss of 408 jobs

TOTAL PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS IN 2016:  $45.1 M

LOST REVENUE TO ITEP IN 2017:  $12.8 M

ITEP AS % OF PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED: 28%

LOST REVENUE FOR –

School district:  $3.7 M

Sheriff:  $2.8 M

Fire:  $2.5 M

Parish & other entities:  $1.2 M

Library Taxes:  $336.2 K

Health:  $783.2 K

Parks & Rec:  $197.2 K

Roads:  $277.1 K

Levee:  $1.0 M

Drainage: 0

TYPE: Parish

https://www.togetherla.org/about

Particulate Matter unhealthy levels in air

Unhealthy levels of particulate matter PM2.5
LDEQ issues an air quality notice for Chalmette
based on levels of particulate matter measured at the Chalmette Vista Air Monitor
https://airquality.deq.louisiana.gov/Data/Site/CHALMETTEVISTA/Date/2018-11-03

Sensitive Groups are CHILDREN, ACTIVE ADULTS, the elderly, people with asthma and other illnesses.  REDUCE EXERTION OUTDOORS
The Chalmette Vista Monitor is located adjacent to Bluebird Park

-----Original Message-----
From: DEQ AQI Notifications
To:
Sent: Sat, Nov 3, 2018 3:15 pm
Subject: AQI Exceedance Notification - Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

AQI Exceedance Notification The following DEQ air monitoring site(s) have detected elevated readings which have reached an "Orange" or "Red" level on the Air Quality Index (AQI). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, who sets most air quality standards, being at the "Orange" level means that levels are "Unhealthy for sensitive groups - People with asthma should consider reducing exertion outdoors", while a "Red" level is "Unhealthy - Children, asthmatics, and people with heart or lung disease should reduce exertion outdoors". If you are in this group of individuals, please plan your outdoor activities accordingly. For more information please visit the DEQ Air Monitoring Data & AQI website Chalmette Vista Site 102 PM25 Unhealthy for sensitive groups 35.957 UG/M3 11/3/2018 3:00 PM This data has not been quality reviewed or validated. Continuous PM2.5 readings shown are not NAAQS comparable. If you would like to stop receiving these messages, please Unsubscribe. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 602 N. Fifth Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 For website issues please email the web team. For all other issues call 1-866-896-LDEQ or e-mail our Customer Service Center.

Unhealthy Sulfur Dioxide Levels

CORRECTION:  The LDEQ sent AQI Exceedance Notifications twice this week for Sulfur Dioxide levels in Chalmette Vista neighborhood. Both readings were at 3AM and have been changed to N/A for calibration of monitor.

Just when residents thought it was safe to leave the windows open with the cool Fall temperatures, the LDEQ sent out a notification when the Sulfur Dioxide reading spiked over night and reached a one-hour average of over 155 parts per billion The EPA health standard for sulfur dioxide is 75 ppb SO2. Sulfur Dioxide at the 12 ppb SO2 level triggers headaches and other adverse effects.

Site Data from the air monitor at Chalmette Vista Louisiana

http://airquality.deq.louisiana.gov/Data/Site/CHALMETTEVISTA/Date/2018-10-14

The Louisiana DEQ issued an exceedance notice about the air quality being unhealth for sensitive groups:  Sensitive Groups are CHILDREN, the elderly, & ACTIVE ADULTS.



-----Original Message-----
From: DEQ AQI Notifications
To: 
Sent: Wed, Oct 17, 2018 4:15 am
Subject: AQI Exceedance Notification - Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

AQI Exceedance Notification The following DEQ air monitoring site(s) have detected elevated readings which have reached an "Orange" or "Red" level on the Air Quality Index (AQI). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, who sets most air quality standards, being at the "Orange" level means that levels are "Unhealthy for sensitive groups - People with asthma should consider reducing exertion outdoors", while a "Red" level is "Unhealthy - Children, asthmatics, and people with heart or lung disease should reduce exertion outdoors". If you are in this group of individuals, please plan your outdoor activities accordingly. For more information please visit the DEQ Air Monitoring Data & AQI website Chalmette Vista Site 139 SO2 Unhealthy for sensitive groups 160.8 PPB 10/17/2018 3:00 AM This data has not been quality reviewed or validated. Continuous PM2.5 readings shown are not NAAQS comparable. If you would like to stop receiving these messages, please Unsubscribe. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 602 N. Fifth Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 For website issues please email the web team. For all other issues call 1-866-896-LDEQ or e-mail our Customer Service Center. -----Original Message----- From: DEQ AQI Notifications To:  Sent: Sun, Oct 14, 2018 4:15 am Subject: AQI Exceedance Notification - Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality AQI Exceedance Notification The following DEQ air monitoring site(s) have detected elevated readings which have reached an "Orange" or "Red" level on the Air Quality Index (AQI). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, who sets most air quality standards, being at the "Orange" level means that levels are "Unhealthy for sensitive groups - People with asthma should consider reducing exertion outdoors", while a "Red" level is "Unhealthy - Children, asthmatics, and people with heart or lung disease should reduce exertion outdoors". If you are in this group of individuals, please plan your outdoor activities accordingly. For more information please visit the DEQ Air Monitoring Data & AQI website Chalmette Vista Site 137 SO2 Unhealthy for sensitive groups 155.6 PPB 10/14/2018 3:00 AM This data has not been quality reviewed or validated. Continuous PM2.5 readings shown are not NAAQS comparable. If you would like to stop receiving these messages, please Unsubscribe. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 602 N. Fifth Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 For website issues please email the web team. For all other issues call 1-866-896-LDEQ or e-mail our Customer Service Center.

Evacuation Route Needed

Alex Cohen is in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
8 September at 15:51

Since day one L'eau Est La Vie Camp - No Bayou Bridge has been echoing the calls from the people of St. James demanding that they be given a evacuation route.

St. James is a predominantly African American free slave community, which is surrounded by tank farms, refineries, and other fossil fuel industry infrastructure. Currently only one road leads in and out of St. James and in the event of an inevitable pipeline disaster, residents could be trapped.

This road use to be used by the public as another way out until Marathon Pipeline LLC stole this land which now houses over 100 oil storage tankers and blocked the road with this gate and private security. The #BayouBridgePipeline now runs through this land and community as well before ending at its final destination. Making an already dangerous situation, explosive.

In order to secure an evacuation route for St. James all Governor John Bel Edwards has to do is give this road back to the people, instead he spends the majority of his time bent over for the oil & petrochemical Industry.

Environmental racism lives here.

CALL LOUISIANA GOVERNOR EDWARDS NOW – demand that he give St James an evacuation route: http://nobbp.org/call/

#GiveStJamesAWayOut #NoBayouBridge #NoBBP #StopETP #WaterIsLife#LoveWaterNotOil

https://www.facebook.com/labucketbrigade/

Air Quality Day Notice for New Orleans Region

An Air Quality Action Day has been declared for New Orleans for Friday August 24

Active children and adults, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor activities and exertion. 

La DEQ Meraux Site Data
http://deq.louisiana.gov/

Thursday, August 23 2018, light northerly winds behind a departing front will gradually transport smoke from wildfires in the western U.S. and Canada into Louisiana, increasing particle concentrations. In addition, increasing sunshine and warm temperatures will enhance ozone production. As a result, AQI levels will be Moderate in most locations. Friday, as a surface high pressure system move over Louisiana, calm to light winds will reduce pollutant dispersion, and lingering smoke will continue to increase particle levels throughout Louisiana. In addition, mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-90s will enhance ozone formation. Therefore, AQI levels will be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport, and Moderate elsewhere in the state. Saturday, increasing southerly winds will aid dispersion and transport cleaner air into the state. However, warm temperatures and sunny skies will continue to aid ozone formation. These conditions will yield Moderate AQI levels in most locations.

DEQ is forecasting an Ozone Action Day for Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John, St. Tammany, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. The weather conditions will be favorable for the formation of ozone.


The Air Quality Index indicates that ozone will be at the orange level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Increasing ozone levels may cause unhealthy air quality during afternoon hours. Active children and adults, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor activities and exertion. 

Area residents are encouraged to take one or more of the following
voluntary actions to help reduce the formation of ozone::
• Drive less. Carpool, walk and bike, combine errands and care for your car. Be sure your gas cap is on tight.
• Refuel your vehicle, mow grass and use gas powered lawn equipment and off road vehicles after 6 p.m.
• Postpone chores that use oil based paint, varnishes and solvents that produce flame.
• If you barbeque, use an electric starter instead of starter fluid.
• Take your lunch to work or walk to lunch
• Conserve Energy in your home
Incorporating these tips into your daily routines can make a significant difference. We all have a stake in better air quality.
SPREAD THE WORD by telling family, friends, co-workers and neighbors about OZONE ACTION DAYS.

More information about current air quality and what you can do to help prevent ozone formation is available online at the DEQ website www.deq.louisiana.gov. For questions, please call 225-219-3489 (weekdays).         

little neighborhoods, big gains

UPDATE:

The Institute for Justice’s most famous case is coming to the big screen near you! 

 

In order for this special screening to take place, the organizers of the screening need to sell a minimum number of tickets by Wednesday, September 19.  You can purchase your ticket here for this special event:

 

                Special Screening of Little Pink House

                Wednesday, September 26, 2018

                6:30 PM

                AMC Clearview Palace 12

                4486 Veterans Memorial Boulevard

                Metairie, LA 70009

                Purchase tickets here:  https://www.tugg.com/events/little-pink-house-ykn8

               

As you may know, Little Pink House showcases the true story of IJ client Susette Kelo, a small-town paramedic who buys her first home—a cottage—and paints it pink.  When politicians plan to bulldoze it for a corporation, she fights back, taking her case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Even after she lost in court, her struggle sparked a nationwide backlash against eminent domain abuse that today helps millions of Americans better protect what is rightfully theirs.  You can watch the film trailer here.

 

I hope you’ll be able to make it to this special screening—and bring family or friends.  Little Pink House is a wonderful portrayal of the enduring impact of one woman’s courage—and IJ’s unwavering legal and grassroots efforts.  It’s a terrific opportunity to introduce newcomers to our work and encourage them to join our fight to restore vital constitutional protections for individual liberty.

 

Scott G. Bullock

President and General Counsel

Institute for Justice

Post from July 2018
Should it be legal to force people out of their homes to benefit a private company? Thankfully a Louisiana State Constitutional Amendment in 2006  gives us some protection. Unfortunately, sometimes people are still pushed out by Master Land Use Plans and Zoning Changes or forced out by politicians and strong armed corporations, sometimes in the name of a protective greenspace, sometimes for a zoning change trade for a promise of a ball park or donations. Sadly, we are not alone.

From an email from Institute for Justice:

If you have some down time this weekend, I hope you will consider sharing your support of the Institute for Justice by gathering your family and friends to watch a special film.  As the successful theater run of Little Pink House comes to a close, you can hold a private showing by purchasing the film through Amazon and other services.

As you probably know, Little Pink House is the true story of IJ client Susette Kelo’s heroic fight to save her little pink cottage—and her neighborhood.  While it has been 13 years since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed government agencies to take homes and businesses for private development using eminent domain, the massive impact of this case and IJ’s work continues.  

This movie is in many ways a tribute to the courage of all IJ clients, and an illustration of the power of IJ’s style of public interest litigation, communications, activism, research, and legislative advocacy.  While watching the film, I hope you will consider making adonation to support the Institute for Justice and our fight for people like Susette.

Scott

Scott G. Bullock

President and General Counsel

Institute for Justice

renewal opportunities

C. S. Lewis Quote: “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

How many businesses and industrial plants in St Bernard Parish have invested in the community by installing the Best Available Control Technology, or at least examining where BACT improvements could be installed, even when not required. Some of these same industries have already made such investments at their plants in other States. Unfortunately, in areas such as St Bernard, all too often it is only when the air quality fails public health standards or the owners are dragged kicking and screaming through adjudication that public health and environmental improvements are finally afforded to our most vulnerable populations. 

We can all do our part to be part of the solution. Let's hope the State Department of Environmental Quality improves the quality of our environment and gets the regulatory permits right this time around without compromising public health, safety, and quality of life. Our future depends on it.

Renewals and Modifications:

Rain CII Calcining Chalmette Plant
Title V Air Permit Modificaiton  to increase production of calcined coke. Existing capacity noted at 350,000 tons green coke and incremental increase of 235,000 tons green coke. 
Proposed Emission Rate of Sulfur Dioxide 2625.78 Tons/Year SO2.  
Proposed Emission Rate of VOC's                    5.88 Tons/Year VOCs
Proposed Emission Rate of CO                     290.22 Tons/Year CO
Proposed Emission Rate of NOx                  307.24 Tons/Year NOx
Not yet Public Noticed for Comment


PBF Energy Chalmette Plant Water Discharge Renewal LPDES Public Comments Due July 19 2018

Valero Energy Meraux Plant Water Discharge Renewal LPDES  Public Comments Due July 19 2018


Valero Energy Meraux Plant  
Title V Air Permit Modification   to increase the refinery's crude throughput capacity from 125,000 barrels/day to 135,000 barrels/day. As a result of the proposed crude increase, actual throughput and production of downstream process units and emission sources will also increase.
Proposed Emission Rate of Sulfur Dioxide 593.94 Tons/Year SO2. 
Proposed Emission Rate of VOC's              533.31 Tons/Year VOC's
Proposed Emission Rate of CO                 1086.85 Tons/Year CO
Proposed Emission Rate of NOx                 710.31 Tons/Year NOx
Public Comments Due August 6 2018