Air Issues in Louisiana

Air Issues in Louisiana

The Clean Air Act (CAA) establishes a number of permitting programs designed to carry out the goals of the act. Some of these programs are directly implemented by EPA's South Central Region (Region 6), but most are carried out by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) .

Ethylene Oxide

Inspector General Status Reports

Follow up reports by State and Company to the Inspector General Management Alert.

Upcoming scheduled community meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Ethylene Oxide 101: EPA Webinar held on May 25,2021

• Video of the May 20, 2021 Webinar
• PowerPoint of presentation used in the Webinar
• Transcript of Webinar
• Original invitation to the Webinar

Risk Assessment of Ethylene Oxide Emitting Facilities in Louisiana and Texas

Results of the Risk Assessment of Ethylene Oxide Emitting Facilities in Texas and Louisiana (21 pp, July 8, 2021) (Rev 1 8/6/21) (pdf) (1.95 MB)
This 21 page memorandum discusses the Risk Assessment conducted of select ethylene oxide emitting facilities located in Louisiana and Texas. This is of general interest to those who are interested in this subject for one or more specific sites in either of the two states.

Site Specific Information for Ethylene Oxide Emitting Sources in Louisiana

• BCP Ingredients, St. Gabriel, La EIS Facility ID 7451011 AI 27495
• Evonik– Reserve Plant (formerly Air Products Performance Manufacturing, Inc), Reserve, La. EIS Facility ID 5287111 AI 13560
• Sasol Chemicals (USA) – Lake Charles Complex, Westlake, La EIS Facility ID 8468011 AI 3271
• Taminco US (Eastman Corp.) St. Gabriel, La EIS Facility ID 5504811 AI 3263
• Union Carbide Corp., St. Charles Operations, Taft, La EIS Facility ID 7202911, AI 2083

LDEQ Air Permits Division

The LDEQ Air Permits Division is responsible for preparing the following types of air permits:

• Part 70 (Title V) Operating,
• General Part 70 (Title V) Operating,
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD),
• Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR),
• State (Minor Source),
• State Minor Source General Permit,
• Acid Rain (Title IV),
• Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), and
• Regulatory.

Failure to Submit State Implementation Plans Required for Attainment of the 1-Hour Primary Sulfur Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)

EPA has issued findings that 11 states have failed to make State Implementation Plan submittals required under the Clean Air Act for areas that were designated as nonattainment for the 1-Hour Primary Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in 2013.  The states affected by this notice are Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Exposure to persistent levels of SO₂ can affect health lung functioning and result in difficulty breathing, changes in the ability to breathe deeply, a tight feeling around the chest, or burning/inflammation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
• The effects of SO₂ are felt very quickly and most people feel the worst symptoms in 10 or 15 minutes after breathing it in.
• Those most at risk of developing problems if exposed are people with asthma or similar conditions.
• The EPA is working with states to identify areas of concern by setting a process and timetable under the Data Requirements Rule (DRR) to implement the 2010 1-hour SO₂ NAAQS. States can characterize current air quality in areas with large SO₂ sources or establish a federally enforceable emission limit. Air agencies have the flexibility to establish ambient monitoring sites or conduct air quality modeling, and to submit data to the EPA.
• More information about Sulphur Dioxide