EPA to La.: Crack down on polluters

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says Louisiana is violating federal law by allowing manufacturers to release toxic air pollutants, greater than permits specify, during plant startups, shutdowns and malfunctions, including results after hurricanes or accidents. EPA contends facility designs should already account for the potential for reducing or eliminating emission increases during those periods. Greater emissions should be considered permit violations by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, EPA says. EPA's review of Louisiana permitting records between Jan. 1, 2021, and Oct. 18, 2022, found 205 permit variances allowing additional emissions above permit limits. Among some of them are Shell Chemical Co. in Norco; Cameron LNG facility in Hackberry; Koch Methanol in St. James Parish; and Linde Inc. in Geismar. EPA objects to a part of Louisiana’s environmental regulations allowing the granting of a variance if a state official “finds that by reason of exceptional circumstances strict conformity with any provisions of [Louisiana’s air quality] regulations would cause undue hardship, would be unreasonable, impractical or not feasible under the circumstances.” In a Feb. 24 Federal Register filing, the EPA asked the state to change the policy. EPA said the federal Clean Air Act doesn’t allow for exemptions from state-set emission limits. (NOLA.com 03/06/23) EPA wants state to crack down on plant startup pollution | Environment | nola.com