DEQ offers information to reduce ozone emissions
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LAFAYETTE — The Department of Environmental Quality invites area residents to learn more about how they can help lower ozone emissions during a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Clifton Chenier Center auditorium.
Lafayette is out of line with recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ozone emission standards.
In March, the EPA lowered the standard to 75 parts per billion, while Lafayette’s was at 77 parts per billion. One part per billion equates to a drop of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool. The next monitoring data will be calculated in 2010, giving Lafayette time to develop strategies to reduce levels here, DEQ officials said.
“You are so close to being in attainment that we’re trying to get information out to the public because there’s a lot of things that individuals can do,” said Jean Kelly, DEQ public information officer.
The meeting is part of a statewide steering committee of public and private agencies with a mission of reducing emissions in Louisiana. Falling out of attainment could mean more governmental oversight.
“In the Baton Rouge area, we’ve had people working on ozone issues for years,” Michael Vince, administrator for the air quality assessment division, said.
“We’re trying to bring that knowledge to those communities that have not had to deal with this in the past and give them the tools to develop their own coalitions,” Vince said. “It’s not just a governmental issue or an industry issue. It’s a we all need to work together issue.”
Lafayette is out of line with recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ozone emission standards.
In March, the EPA lowered the standard to 75 parts per billion, while Lafayette’s was at 77 parts per billion. One part per billion equates to a drop of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool. The next monitoring data will be calculated in 2010, giving Lafayette time to develop strategies to reduce levels here, DEQ officials said.
“You are so close to being in attainment that we’re trying to get information out to the public because there’s a lot of things that individuals can do,” said Jean Kelly, DEQ public information officer.
The meeting is part of a statewide steering committee of public and private agencies with a mission of reducing emissions in Louisiana. Falling out of attainment could mean more governmental oversight.
“In the Baton Rouge area, we’ve had people working on ozone issues for years,” Michael Vince, administrator for the air quality assessment division, said.
“We’re trying to bring that knowledge to those communities that have not had to deal with this in the past and give them the tools to develop their own coalitions,” Vince said. “It’s not just a governmental issue or an industry issue. It’s a we all need to work together issue.”
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