For many years the air quality in St Bernard Parish failed the EPA standards for sulfur dioxide. Recent changes to air permits at major sources in Chalmette and Meraux have reduced the ambient sulfur dioxide levels.
This is one of the important first steps to improving public health in the community. Other improvements could be made for the hydrogen sulfide and methane levels, which often attribute to the nauseating odors frequently experienced along St Bernard Highway and in the neighborhoods around Chalmette Refining, Rain CII, and also Valero Energy. Another improvement could be coming once these facilities install continuous fenceline monitoring for benzene; this monitoring for benzene is expected in early 2018.
When a community fails the air quality health standard, it is designated NON-ATTAINMENT.
Non-attainment for sulfur dioxide occurs when modeling demonstrates air quality fails the standard, or when data from a local air monitor demonstrates the 3-year average of the 99th percentile reading for sulfur dioxide is not below 75 parts per billion.
According to EPA's Data Now website:
For the year 2015, St Bernard's 99th percentile for SO2 was 82 ppb; for the year 2016, St Bernard's 99th percentile for SO2 was 85 ppb. For the year 2017, it is anticipated that St Bernard Parish's 99th percentile will be 57.1 ppb. Based on those numbers, the 3 year average will be 74.7 parts per billion. While that high number means the air quality is only 0.3 points away from failing the health standard, it just may be low enough to place our community back on the road to recovery. And that's a major improvement.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --- Margaret Mead
No comments:
Post a Comment