Fighting to Live

Sharon Lavigne of RISE ST. JAMES is this year's Laetare Medal laureate, considered the most prestigious award for American Catholics, with previous recipients including Presidents John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, former Speakers of the House John Boehner and Tip O'Neill, Sister Helen Prejean, actor Martin Sheen, musician Aaron Neville, and many more. Congratulations Ms. Sharon!

2022 Laetare Medalist Sharon Lavigne

“Sharon has been a source of hope and inspiration to both myself and the community. She is always working to help the people of St. James. And when she speaks out on behalf of them, she speaks passionately.”—Chasity White, resident of St. James Parish

EPA EJScreen Tool Trainings

 

Upcoming EJScreen 2.0 Tool Office Hours and Trainings

 

EPA is hosting the next virtual ‘Office Hours’ and Trainings for users of EJSCREEN, the Agency's environmental justice screening and mapping tool. Office Hours are a chance for the public to talk with EPA EJScreen experts about many topics including how to use and apply the tool, technical issues, and any other questions. The trainings will include information on the updates made to EJScreen 2.0, a demonstration of the newly available features, and tips on how to use the tool. All sessions are free, and registration is not required.

 

• April 20, 2022 Office Hours at 12 pm E.T. - Click Here to Join

 

• April 6, 2022 Training at 12 pm E.T. - Click Here to Join

 

• May 4, 2022 Training at 12 pm E.T. - Click Here to Join

 

We hope that you will join these open discussions and trainings to learn about EJSCREEN, as well as to get your questions answered.

 

Background

 

This updated version of EJScreen, known as EJScreen 2.0, makes important improvements to better meet the needs of users and provides expanded insight into EJ concerns in overburdened communities. The redesigned interface of EJScreen 2.0 includes new data on environmental burdens, socioeconomic factors, climate change, health, and critical service gaps.

 

For more information on the EJSCREEN Office Hours and Trainings and to access recordings of past sessions, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/ejscreen-office-hours.

 

For more information on EJSCREEN, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen.

perks of power

 

"Those who are concerned with the massive project fear its residential location will upend their lives and have negative environmental impacts." -- WVUE TV

That sums its up! A MASSIVE PROJECT in a RESIDENTIAL LOCATION !  

 

Port of New Orleans proposal ?an economic driver or a big problem?  -- WGNO TV

https://wgno.com/news/local/will-a-new-port-in-st-bernard-be-a-economic-driver-or-big-problem-for-the-parish/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-DLOtNq8gs

To paraphrase community perspective posted online:

 THE GOVERNOR COULD DO SOMETHING!! 

Historically, Louisiana has invested in projects which cost state citizens their health and quality of life. The Governor could stop formosa in st james, stop the grain elevator in wallace, and stop port of new orleans in st bernard. Gov JBE could reject site selections which destroy human habitats and suffocate existing commerce and tourism. Gov JBE could stop these ridiculous plastics for exports projects, invest in a more modern, more sustainable global shipping port location, and find a more appropriate grain export location. ALL 3 of these "economic developments" are ACTIVE ECONOMIC INJUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND a sad continuance of Louisiana's RACISM. The Governor could preserve the integrity of existing residential districts, protect human health, and stop the socioeconomic inequities, especially in low income communities and minority communities. The hypocrisy of Gov JBE is astonishing; one cannot claim a State Climate Initiative and then support massive projects which run counter to task force plans. Gov JBE could reject projects which contribute such large amounts to air pollution and which do not meet the state's climate initiatives, the state's air quality attainment plans, or the state's regional haze plans.  Gov JBE could uphold the state's coastal plan and in st bernard parish Gov JBE could preserve the over one thousand acres of forested wetlands which are part of the original Chitimacha territory. Gov JBE could reject projects which do not meet the State's goal to reduce emissions and provide for a healthy, more equitable economy. These 3 projects each run in exact opposite of such State goals. Gov JBE could prove he is pro-life beyond birth and protect our citizens, especially school children. Let's see if JBE is a puppet of the Corporatocracy or a man of his word!

Toxic Air Pollution in Port Facilities

 

"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.

Offshore Terminaling not limited

 

Offshore future expansion would not have limits, as would a port on land in St. Bernard Parish. It would be a mistake to build the new port as a small additional port only 10 miles from the current Port of New Orleans. Its long-term future port infrastructure expansion would be very limited by the lack of ample land and river space.

There is not enough surrounding land for long-term growth to accommodate the expected growth in container shipping. Imagine 10 or 15 of the larger container ships now under construction trying to go up and down the mouth of the river at the same time. Think how these would block the river for other traffic when they are turning around to go downstream.

DAVID RUBENSTEIN

merchant New Orleans

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_5d5a9038-627f-11ec-9e2a-fff5a728225c.html

Lagarde Laurent Legacy

 

Lagarde Laurent Legacy 

Just like our historical Pakenham Oaks and Jackson Avenue Oaks in Chalmette and the Docville Farm’s Oak Tree Tunnel in Meraux, so too the live oak trees along Judge Perez Drive are deeply rooted in our culture and worthy of preservation and protection. The majority of these particular trees are over 40 years of age, being planted when our parish laid ground for future residential growth in Meraux, Violet, Poydras and down, cutting through Good Children’s street, renamed Judge Perez Drive– and more recently renamed after Judge Melvyn Perez.

Each live oak tree gracing Judge Perez Drive was originally planted by residents who adopted a tree, even naming the young seedlings. The selfless work of the Laurent and Lagarde families initialized our neutral ground treasures. “Elenora Zamora Lagarde Laurent served as president of St Bernard Business & Professional Women's Club from 1978-79, choosing as her project the planting of 450 oak trees'' up and down the neutral ground from Arabi to Violet'; the seedlings were planted by Elenora and her husband, Roy, and many volunteers.

After the failure of the federal levees in 2005, several residents and neighborhood associations used donations and grants to replace lost trees and add new ones, planting over 120 live oak trees on the medians. In both projects, residents made a very personal commitment to the future of our parish, to adopt a tree and water and care for the trees.

Our understanding of Elenora and Roy’s Legacy is the Laurent and Lagarde families lovingly provided transplanted young trees and seedlings from their own private properties in eastern St Bernard. The Lagarde Laurent project included a book – listing the name given to each tree and the residents who adopted, named, and cared for the trees. These trees were not planted in vain. By the year 2030, the majority of the trees will be 50 years young and should be preserved and nurtured for at least another 150 years.

“Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

Study the Infrastructure FIRST

 

paraphrase St Bernard Parish Councilmember

anybody who's worked on a port knows the amount of traffic that exists for a port

and anyone who's worked on a port knowns the congestion that exists on a port

and recognizing that there was going to be a very strong - to put it lightly - push to bring this complex to St Bernard Parish

the first thing said [to the port of New Orleans] was we don't have the infrastructure to support this

we don't even have near the infrastructure to support this

and the council member asked the port for a very specific piece of infrastructure if the port was even going to consider it

The port was told they needed to create "Florida Avenue" with road and rail all the way from Florida Avenue (in New Orleans Ninth Ward) to the back side of the proposed project (in Violet, St Bernard Parish) if this was even going to be a consideration by the council member

And there's a good reason for that

Because the rail roads in St Bernard Parish go through our neighborhoods

So the homes that people buy, the rail roads and the trains go right next door to the houses, rattle the homes when the trains pass at night

And if you think we have rail traffic now, the magnitude upon which the port is talking about bringing to St Bernard Parish and the size of this container terminal would be laughable

Your talking about absolute gridlock crossing our highways

Gridlock through our neighborhoods

You would never be able to sleep (and we don't sleep now)

And that's just with the current rail traffic that we have now

And I respect the business opinion that I'm assuming some of the people (attending the council meeting) here that are in support of the port are going to speak about

With that said, this would be an absolute tragedy if it were built as is 

And I asked the port to go into the environmental study first on the infrastructure

First !

Don't buy the property first, don't do the other environmental first, don't rail road it down our throats first

Go to infrastructure first

That's not what has happened here

The port of New Orleans has done everything in opposition here from what the council member asked

Which means 

--- in some's opinion could be a great amenity and potential economic catalyst in St Bernard Parish

but for this council member 

 -- It would be a great detriment because we do not -- contrary to what the port says -- have the infrastructure to support this

Not even close