Air Quality

A town hall meeting with Senator Cleo Fields and Louisiana officials Tuesday, February 5th at Southern University’s School of Nursing to discuss Exxon Mobil’s plan, the Tier 2 project, to emit more chemical fumes in Baton Rouge by producing a cleaner gas.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) voiced concerns and ExxonMobil provided one solution, the Tier 2 project.
The Tier 2 is an (EPA) nationwide project to reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline that pollutes the air.
The cleaner gasoline will give off toxic gases such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and promethium, which are detrimental to human beings living close to the refineries.
The EPA’s Tier 2 automobile emissions regulations call for tailpipe emissions to lower sulfur standards in gasoline over a five-year period from 2004-2009.
The new tailpipe and sulfur standards are expected to reduce the sulfur content of gasoline by 90 percent, according to the Louisiana Environmental Action Network fact sheet.
Senator Cleo Fields extended the time for the public to comment until February 8th. “The people that are near these facilities are the best to let you know of the impact.”
Many citizens were disturbed about ExxonMobil petitioning to burn more chemicals in the Baton Rouge community.
“A lot more people are going to get sicker from pollutants in the air. Some people do not have the insurance to go to the hospital to get treated so fatalities will occur,” said Khadine Preddie, a senior majoring in Early Childhood Development.
An ExxonMobil representative, Walt Eldredge, gave a presentation about the benefits of the Tier 2 project.
“ExxonMobil has reduced populants 18 percent since the late 1980s…air in Baton Rouge will be cleaner because of this project,” said Eldredge.
Michael Vince from the DEQ argued that the future gasoline sulfur content would be drastically reduce from today’s maximum gasoline sulfur content. “There is no cleaner way. There are going to be significant reductions.”
The DEQ will make a decision to approve or deny ExxonMobil permit by March 5th.
Comments must delivered today, February 8th to Ms. Carolyn Laney, LA Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 82135 Baton Rouge, LA 70884-2135.
Louisiana Environmental Action Network is sponsoring a Prayer Vigil today at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. For more information contact Stephanie Anthony at 225-357-7425.