HLS 14RS-4898 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 171
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
ENVIRONMENT/AIR: Creates the Air Quality Monitoring Commission to study the
efficacy and adequacy of the state's air monitoring system
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To create the Air Quality Monitoring Commission charged with the responsibility to study2
the efficacy and adequacy of the state's air monitoring system, specifically the costs3
and benefits of expanding the state's air monitoring system.4
WHEREAS, air pollution may pose an irritant to healthy people in the form of5
burning eyes and nose; it can also cause serious respiratory problems to those with asthma,6
our children, and the elderly; and, in the extreme cases of releases of toxic chemicals such7
as benzene or vinyl chloride, such releases carry the threat of long-term illness and possibly8
death; and9
WHEREAS, clean air is not only a necessity of life for ourselves, but also for trees,10
crops, plants, waterbodies, and animals; when air becomes polluted it not only damages11
those natural things but also those we have created such as cities, buildings, bridges, and12
monuments, and interferes with aviation; and13
WHEREAS, because the ideal location of Louisiana, at the convergence of plentiful14
natural resources in the form of petroleum, natural gas, water, and timber, and the means of15
transportation on the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, rail, and the many pipelines that16
extend across the country, the petrochemical industry is a major economic engine for our17
state, employs many of our citizens, and contributes to the tax rolls to the state and local18
governments; and19
WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution of Louisiana requires the20
legislature to enact laws to protect, conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state,21 HLS 14RS-4898 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 171
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including the air, insofar as possible and consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of1
the people; and2
WHEREAS, in its April 29, 2014, meeting, the House Committee on Natural3
Resources and Environment conducted an in-depth and lengthy debate on House Bill No.4
1084 of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature, particularly the provisions requiring5
air monitors on or near certain facilities' boundaries; the economic and social costs of6
providing, installing, and maintaining such monitors; and the benefits to be gained by such7
monitoring balanced against those costs.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby9
create the Air Quality Monitoring Commission charged with the responsibility to study the10
efficacy and adequacy of the state's air monitoring system, specifically the costs and benefits11
of expanding the state's air monitoring system.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Air Quality Monitoring Commission shall13
be composed of the following members:14
(1) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or his designee.15
(2) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee.16
(3) A representative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency17
designated by the administrator.18
(4) The chair of the Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences of the19
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, or his designee.20
(5) The director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Program21
at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, or his designee.22
(6) Nine residents representing the state's nine homeland security and emergency23
management regions, one from each region, appointed jointly by the chair of the House24
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate Committee25
on Natural Resources from a list of nominees submitted by the governing authority of local26
governmental entities in each region. Nominees shall live within the region from which they27
are nominated, have demonstrated a commitment in their parish or municipality to improve28
air quality, and submit a letter of interest to the governing authority of their local29
governmental entity. The governing authority shall submit one nominee, selected from30 HLS 14RS-4898 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 171
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residents who submitted a letter of interest, to the chair of the House Committee on Natural1
Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.2
(7) Two representatives from the nonprofit sector who have a demonstrated history3
of addressing industrial emissions and air quality appointed jointly by the chair of the House4
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate Committee5
on Natural Resources from a list of nominees submitted by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade,6
the League of Women Voters, and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network.7
(8) Two representatives from the Louisiana Chemical Association and the Louisiana8
Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association who have a demonstrated history of addressing9
industrial emissions and air quality appointed jointly by the chair of the House Committee10
on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural11
Resources.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that commission members shall serve without13
compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be individually14
entitled as members of their constituent organizations.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the first meeting of the commission shall be16
called by the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or her designee, and at17
this meeting the task force shall elect a chairman and vice chairman.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall meet as necessary and19
shall submit a report of its findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and20
Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than February 1,21
2015.22
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Garofalo HCR No. 171
Creates the Air Quality Monitoring Commission charged with the responsibility to study the
efficacy and adequacy of the state's air monitoring system, specifically the costs and benefits
of expanding the state's air monitoring system.
The commission members serve without compensation, except they may receive per diem
or expenses as members of their constituent organizations. The membership shall be
composed of the following: HLS 14RS-4898 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 171
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(1)The secretary of the Dept. of Health and Hospitals, or his designee.
(2)The secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Quality, or his designee.
(3)A representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designated by the
administrator.
(4)The chair of the Dept. of Global Environmental Health Sciences of the Tulane
University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, or his designee.
(5)The director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Program at the
LSU Health Sciences Center, or his designee.
(6)Nine residents each representing one of the state's nine homeland security and
emergency management regions appointed jointly by the chair of the House
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate
Committee on Natural Resources from a list of nominees submitted by the governing
authority of local governmental entities. Nominees shall live within the region from
which they are nominated, have demonstrated a commitment in their parish or
municipality to improve air quality, and submit a letter of interest to the governing
authority of their local governmental entity. The governing authority shall submit
one nominee, selected from residents who submitted a letter of interest, to the chair
of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the
Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
(7)Two representatives from the nonprofit sector who have a demonstrated history of
addressing industrial emissions and air quality appointed jointly by the chair of the
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate
Committee on Natural Resources from a list of nominees submitted by the La.
Bucket Brigade, the League of Women Voters, and the La. Environmental Action
Network.
(8)Two representatives from the La. Chemical Association and the La. Mid-Continent
Oil and Gas Association who have a demonstrated history of addressing industrial
emissions and air quality appointed jointly by the chair of the House Committee on
Natural Resources and Environment and the chair of the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources.
Prohibits membership to the commission if at anytime during the prior four years, the person
derived anything of substantial economic interest directly or indirectly through any
transaction involving any of the industries or facilities with a major air permit of which he
may reasonably be expected to know, or from any entity that transacts business with any
such industries or facilities of which he may reasonably be expected to know.
The first meeting shall be called by the secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Quality
where the chairman and vice chairman shall be elected.
The commission shall meet as necessary and shall submit a report of its findings to the
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources no later than Feb. 1, 2015.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original bill.
1. Added two representatives from the La. Chemical Association and the La. Mid-
Continent Oil and Gas Association.