HLS 16RS-4656 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 186
BY REPRESENTATIVE CONNICK
ENVIRONMENT/AIR: Urges and requests the Department of Environmental Quality to
study the feasibility of sharing internal real-time emissions data from certain
facilities with first responders
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality, in
3 cooperation with the office of public safety services in the Department of Public
4 Safety and Corrections, to study the feasibility of sharing internal real-time
5 emissions data from certain facilities with first responders and to report to the House
6 Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
7 WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution of Louisiana requires the
8legislature to enact laws to protect, conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state,
9including the air, insofar as possible and consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of
10the people; and
11 WHEREAS, in furtherance of this duty, the legislature created the Department of
12Environmental Quality as the primary agency concerned with environmental protection and
13regulation and enacted the Louisiana Air Control Law, R.S. 30:2051 et seq., that requires the
14proper control of the state's air resources and the Hazardous Materials Information
15Development, Preparedness, and Response Act, R.S. 30:2361 et seq., that provides for the
16collection of data from facilities that manufacture, use, or store hazardous materials for
17dissemination to, among others, first responders; and
18 WHEREAS, many facilities that produce air emissions under the jurisdiction of the
19Department of Environmental Quality operate real-time ambient air monitors to ensure
20compliance with the Louisiana Air Control Law, the rules and regulations of the department,
21and the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect
22the employees in the facility; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 16RS-4656 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 186
1 WHEREAS, to protect the health and safety of state and local first responders that
2protect the health and safety of our citizens, pursuant to the Hazardous Materials Information
3Development, Preparedness, and Response Act, the office of public safety services in the
4Department of Public Safety and Corrections has developed processes to notify first
5responders of the hazardous materials a facility contains to ensure the responders
6preparedness in the event of an emergency at the facility; and
7 WHEREAS, it is equally important those first responders be notified of air emissions
8of those facilities that may affect their preparedness to react to an emergency.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
10Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Environmental
11Quality, in cooperation with the office of public safety services in the Department of Public
12Safety and Corrections, to study the feasibility of sharing data with first responders from
13certain facilities equipped with internal real-time air emission monitors and to report the
14study's findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on or
15before February 15, 2017.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
17to the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality and to the deputy secretary for
18the office of public safety services in the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
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)]
HR 186 Original 2016 Regular Session Connick
Urges and requests the Dept. of Environmental Quality, in cooperation with the office of
public safety services in the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, to study the feasibility
of sharing data with first responders from certain facilities equipped with internal real-time
air emission monitors and to report the study's findings to the House Committee on Natural
Resources and Environment on or before Feb. 15, 2017.
Page 2 of 2