"When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can't eat money" --- Nehiyawak Cree Nation of Canada
these wetlands are worth saving
REPUBLISHED FROM JUNE 2024
Investing in America Agenda
Proposed first phases of a federal infrastructure project for a mega container port in Violet, Louisiana constructed around an elementary school , playground, ballpark, and existing residential neighborhoods
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Anyone else wondering if the Biden - Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda was intended to repeat the past mistakes of further marginalizing underserved communities via federal infrastructure projects?
Were USDOT discretionary grants meant to be the nail in coffin when funding mega container ports in the middle of existing residential districts? next to an elementary school, playground, and ball park?
Should the Investing in America Agenda include threats to local school districts to sell & relocate OR we'll just build around it?
Would any project that literally creates a physical divide and makes a fence line community from surrounding neighborhoods be considered a “shovel-worthy” goal of building an America for All?
Our State of Louisiana and our nation can progress in intermodal terminals without destroying the idyllic, rural-suburban community in Violet. Alternative business models with alternative sites and or the existing state ports working together would provide more efficient, safer means to meet business needs without creating new sacrifice zones.
DEMAND USACE conduct a Full EIS
DEMAND USDOT review its benefit cost analysis (BCA)
NO PORT New Orleans
SOS Save Our St Bernard
https://www.facebook.com/SoStBernard/
Send Comments to:
Demand a Full EIS and BCA review on the significant adverse impact on the human habitat, including the disparate socio-economic affects and degrading public health and air quality from port pollution
Demand a public hearing and / or public meeting in Q&A format for decision makers to receive more input on the destruction of over one thousand acres forested wetlands and the irreparable damage to the community and our parish as a whole.
REFERENCE all Comments
SOS Save our St Bernard
sostbernard.org
https://www.facebook.com/SoStBernard/
These wetlands are worth preserving
The New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC) will host a second public meeting to collect community and stakeholder input on findings and preliminary project alternatives under consideration as part of the Lower St. Bernard Parish, LA Roadway Network and Resilience Study (State Project No. H.015428). It is a "Stage 0" feasibility study aiming to identify future St. Bernard Parish transportation network improvements. The evaluation includes (1) an assessment of an anticipated Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) project network impacts and associated land use changes, (2) an evaluation of transportation related project alternatives to mitigate impacts, and (3) community input through the public engagement process.
LDEQ PUBLIC NOTICES
Use this EPA EJScreen mapping tool to help identify environmental issues and areas that are disproportionately affected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZp3AWDJt5A
Launch the EJScreen tool https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
The map includes 13 Environmental Burden indicators on air quality or proximity to pollution sources.
Under the Socioeconomic indicators tab, the first indicator is the Demographic index which includes two factors: low income and people of color. The second is Supplemental Demographic index, which includes low income, person with disabilities, education less than high school, limited English speaking, and low life expectancy. There are other Socioeconomic indicators such as, under age 5 and over age 64.
Looking at the Socioeconomic indicators together or individually will help identify socioeconomic issues the community might already be experiencing, and how susceptible the community might be to the environmental burdens.
There are supplemental indexes which combine the environmental and socioeconomic indicators; the intention of these indexes is to show where both environmental and socioeconomic conditions are disproportionately high. There are also indexes that show health disparities, climate related burdens, and, critical service gaps.
The map and indexes can be printed or shared in a pdf report.
Such reports could help decision makers better protect public health, safety, wellbeing, and quality of life in the communities they represent.
As an example:
In St Bernard Parish, the residential district around the Will Smith, Jr Elementary School, has a high national percentile of both the population under age 5 and the population over age 64.
Residents in Violet, Louisiana already experience low life expectancy, as indicated by the 90 to 95 national percentile.
Currently, this residential district is subjected to diesel exhaust (NATA diesel PM) and PM2.5 particulate matter pollution above the national percentile 80 to 90 percent; some areas are exposed to these pollutants at the 90 to 95 national percentile. Each of these pollutants, diesel exhaust and PM2.5 particulate matter, are known lung carcinogens. Diesel exhaust and PM2.5 reduce lung function growth in children, are linked to premature death, and are linked higher risk to other cancers, including breast, liver, and lymphohematopoietic malignancies.
