Sunday, June 19, 2022
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Environmental Justice for ALL Act
This weekend The Descendants Project will host a congressional delegation to discuss the environmental issues in Cancer Alley including the proposed Greenfield Grain Elevator, and the Environmental Justice For All Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2021/text
Chair Grijalva will be joined by Rep Troy Carter this weekend for a press conference, a tour through St. James and St. John parishes, and a land blessing ceremony at the site of the grain elevator for Sunday, Juneteenth.
We will share more information over the next couple of days!
Saturday, May 14, 2022
benzene exposure
Louisiana refineries measured excessively high levels of cancer-causing chemical in 2021
Mark Schleifstein
Nola.com The New Orleans Advocate
Nola.com The New Orleans Advocate
https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_abc6493a-d230-11ec-b70b-33d4441c4873.html
Valero’s St. Charles refinery was ranked fourth on the list of 12 highest emitters, with 14.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021. And at least one fenceline monitor measured a two-week average concentration greater than 29 micrograms per cubic meter, the level considered acute. But more problematic was an average reading of 300 micrograms per cubic meter during the two-week monitoring period that ended on Sept. 6, 2021, which was after Hurricane Ida disrupted the plant’s operations.
“That’s very close to the level where the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says you should be wearing respirators,” Schaeffer said. “And that’s the kind of exposure information that needs to get out quickly. The requirement to fix these kinds of problems should apply not just to the long-term averages, but to this kind of short-term spike that can be very dangerous.”
Monday, May 9, 2022
Port of New Orleans proposal
1,100 forested acres equates to about 445 hectares
It is estimated that forests soak up about 20 tons of CO2 per hectare per year and do so for 20+ years
445 hectares would absorb about 8,900 tons CO2 per year for 20+ years
how many hectares would be needed in Violet to absorb the carbon emissions from PONO's proposal? the carbon emissions from all the concrete required for PONO's proposal and the carbon emissions for all the concrete required for PONO's magical raised road and rail transecting Bayou Bienvenue and the Central Wetlands? AND additional hectares to replace the removal of the 445 hectares?
The USACE has another commenting period on this massive proposal.
Comments and requests for public hearing are due before June 8 2022
Here's how to submit comments on the PONO Proposal
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Port of New Orleans seeks to expand in St Tammany
Port of New Orleans seeks to make St Tammany Community the Industrial Hub of the Port of New Orleans.
Terri Lewis Stevens Proponent of Better Government explains where all the value added profit centers from the Port of New Orleans' Violet proposal will land; and its not in Violet, nor St Bernard Parish. "Classic Bait and Switch from Bedroom Community to Industrial Hub of the Port of New Orleans! "
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1990704464444353&id=478645105650304
St. Tammany, A Bedroom Community to Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics HUB? NOTE: The PURPLE...Council Meeting, Thursday, May 5, 6PM Koop Drive, Mandeville!!
Copied and Pasted from Facebook
Terri Lewis Stevens - Proponent of Better Government
If it's Wednesday, there must be newly discovered info that St. Tammany Parish Govt. has screwed us somehow...Classic Bait and Switch from Bedroom Community to Industrial Hub of the Port of New Orleans! (Think of the area below the high-rise in NOLA East....)
1-Today's adventure starts with the January 2021 issuance of the 2040 New Directions stakeholder document where the only reference to STPG desiring to become the MAJOR LOGISTICAL/WAREHOUSE/MANUFACTURING HUB of the Port of New Orleans was a single reference to a "Light Industrial" complex.
2-Behind the scenes in Ap 2021, however, Masingill/Cooper were meeting with the Port of New Orleans and entering into written agreements for us to become a MAJOR Logistics Hub for the Port.
3-Masingill/Cooper then identify the first location-Azby's 160 acres at 1088/12 and set about in Oct 2021 to draw in John Crosby to buy and flip the site to a Distribution warehouse SO LARGE that we had no zoning category to govern it! So, they bypass all of the zoning rules and regs and change the land to allow 1,500,000 million square feet in a single structure to build there! And oopsy, no one alerted the Fire Department of this plan either, it seems.
4-The Zoning Board members are clearly complicit when they all approved this massive 1.5 M sf structure with no protections to the health, safety and welfare of the community, and without comment regarding the environmental impacts which undoubtedly will occur.
5-April 2022-the FINAL 2040 Land Use Plan emerges, covered in PURPLE...the new AML (Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics), which will set us up to have the I-12 Corridor become a tractor-trailer tangled nightmare.
6-Directly south of this 7000 acres of 2040 proposed newly PURPLE AML zoning areas are well-established residential areas. Who asked them how they felt about this? They will receive the worst of the polluted run-off from this area. Don’t they deserve a VOTE?
If Masingill/Cooper and the Council thought that a Casino deserved a VOTE of the people, why would a use like this, a change that will fundamentally alter our Quiet Suburban Quality of Life in this parish not deserve a vote of the People as well? Parish Government run amuck, once again. Guess that I’ll have to start another petition to show them how we feel….
Sunday, April 10, 2022
massive port proposed in St Bernard Parish
Brianna Assavedo
The commenting period is open, again. Don’t pass this opportunity up, especially if you missed the last commenting period.
This is a critical time when we can impact the future of the massive container terminal planned for our parish. The public comment period is open, and we encourage everyone to share comments with the Corps of Engineers before the April 27 2022 deadline.
To make commenting easy, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions below (as well as an example here that you can use or tailor to make your own).
If we can provide any assistance, reply to this message.
Thank you,
Your Friends and Neighbors with SOS SOSTBernard.org
STEP 1: Write a letter that includes your concerns
The Corps considers public interests, including: conservation, economics, fish and wildlife values, recreation, and the needs and welfare of the people. Your comment should speak to these.
Are you worried about…
air pollution?
truck and rail traffic?
the impact on your job?
the impact on your family’s quality of life?
Then, share those concerns with the Corps in a letter.
STEP 2: Include your name and address and Reference the permit numbers
Permit Application Numbers MVN-2021-00270-EG and WQC 210113-01
STEP 3: Submit your comment
Send your message with the information in “STEP 2” to the Corps project manager: angelle.v.greer@usace.army.mil and CC: to the LDEQ project manager elizabeth.hill@la.gov
STEP 4: Learn more
If you’d like to learn more about the Permit Application and Public Comment process, visit: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/.../290.../mvn-2021-00270-eg/
Friday, April 8, 2022
EPA discrimination claims
EPA to investigate 2 state agencies over discrimination claims
Halle Parker WWNO - New Orleans Public RadioPublished April 7, 2022 at 6:19 PM CDT
"St. John residents like Robert Taylor — who founded the Concerned Citizens of St. John, one of the complainants — have fought for fewer emissions from the Denka plant since 2016.
That was when they learned that the area suffered from cancer risks far higher than the rest of the country due to chloroprene inhalation from the plant, including children sent to learn at Fifth Ward Elementary School just a half mile away from Denka. That school is 93% minority, with mostly Black students. Taylor and most of the residents closest to the plant are also Black."
"For the Department of Environmental Quality, the EPA’s External Civil Rights Compliance Office will investigate whether the methods used in its air pollution control program have the intent or effect of subjecting people to racial discrimination, including their actions related to emissions from the Denka plant and the decision to grant 14 air permits for the Formosa Plastics industrial complex planned in St. James."
"The EPA office will also determine whether the Department of Health has failed in both providing St. John residents with information about health threats associated with Denka and other sources of air pollution and making recommendations for measures to prevent or reduce exposure. Federal officials will check whether the state agencies have procedures in place to ensure they provide meaningful access to its services and actions."
EPA Title VI and Environmental Justice
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