HLS 15RS-3660 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 177
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
ENVIRONMENT/AIR: Creates a task force to study and evaluate fence line monitoring of
certain facilities
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create a task force to study and evaluate the effectiveness of fence line air quality
3 monitoring from facilities with Title V air permits and to submit a written report of
4 findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and
5 Environment and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality not later than
6 February 15, 2016.
7 WHEREAS, Louisiana has approximately five hundred ten major air pollution
8sources under the Title V Clean Air Act permit program that emit hazardous pollutants that
9can cause asthma and other health problems; and
10 WHEREAS, fence line air quality monitoring systems can detect hazardous air
11pollutants and criteria pollutants and give real-time notification to first responders,
12neighboring communities, and the department when emissions pose a threat to the public
13health; and
14 WHEREAS, fence line air quality monitoring systems have been in operation
15throughout the country near major air pollutant sources; and
16 WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that many
17"companies are themselves adopting this technology to manage their operations and to help
18them quickly identify and fix problems, saving money, reducing pollution, and avoiding
19compliance problems"; and
20 WHEREAS, as the EPA has introduced air pollution monitoring systems, it is
21"finding serious pollution issues that require attention"; and
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HCR NO. 177
1 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's mission is to
2promote and protect health, safety, and welfare and reducing air pollution and the associated
3public health consequences improves economic growth.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
5create a task force to study and evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of fence line air
6quality monitoring systems and community air quality monitoring systems used throughout
7the state and other states.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
9following members:
10 (1) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or her designee.
11 (2) The assistant secretary of the office of public health, within the Department of
12Health and Hospitals, or his designee.
13 (3) The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, or his designee.
14 (4) The state president of the Louisiana office of AARP, Corp., or her designee.
15 (5) The dean of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, or his
16designee.
17 (6) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Chemical Association.
18 (7) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas
19Association.
20 (8) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.
21 (9) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Association of Business and
22Industry.
23 (10) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Pulp and Paper Association.
24 (11) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
25 (12) A representative appointed by the Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club.
26 (13) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade.
27 (14) A representative appointed by the Louisiana State University Superfund
28Research Center.
29 (15) A representative appointed by the Louisiana Chapter of the American Lung
30Association.
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HCR NO. 177
1 (16) A representative appointed by Together Louisiana.
2 (17) A representative appointed by the GreenARMY.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force shall serve without
4compensation.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of
6Environmental Quality or her designee shall serve as chair of the task force and shall be
7responsible for providing staff to assist the task force in performing its duties. The task force
8shall convene its first meeting by August 1, 2015. At such meeting the task force shall adopt
9rules of procedure, a work schedule, and any additional measures that it deems necessary for
10the timely performance of its duties.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
12its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the House Committee on Natural
13Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality on or
14before February 15, 2016.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this report shall include the following:
16 (1) The effectiveness and benefits of fence line air quality monitoring systems and
17community air quality monitoring systems in alerting first responders, neighboring
18communities, and state regulatory agencies of air pollution threats to public health.
19 (2) Costs required to install, operate, and maintain such systems.
20 (3) Information on the types of air pollutants emitted by facilities in the state with
21Title V air permits, the public health impacts associated with those of air pollutants, and the
22costs associated with those public health impacts.
23 (4) Recommendations on implementing fence line air quality monitoring systems
24and the specific legislative and administrative rule changes necessary for such
25implementation.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.
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HCR NO. 177
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)]
HCR 177 Original 2015 Regular Session Cox
Creates a task force to study and evaluate the effectiveness of fence line air quality
monitoring from facilities with Title V air permits and to submit a written report of findings
and recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and
the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality not later than Feb. 15, 2016.
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