OPPOSE SB76 AND SB275
Email sent 4/1 to Louisiana Senate Environmental Quality Committee
hughesj@legis.la.gov, "Hon. Eddie Lambert" <lamberte@legis.la.gov>, "Hon. Jeremy Stine" <sen27@legis.la.gov>, "Hon. Patrick Connick" <connickp@legis.la.gov>, "Hon. Bob Hensgens" <sen26@legis.la.gov>,
"Hon. Robert Owen" <sen01@legis.la.gov>, "Hon. Thomas Pressly" <sen38@legis.la.gov>, "Hon. Ed Price" pricee@legis.la.gov, sen33@legis.la.gov, senvq@legis.la.gov
Dear Honorable Senators of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee:
Thank you for your work.
I am writing to express my opposition to SB76 and SB275.
Although the title of SB76 says: Provides for the notification of certain hazardous material releases; in fact, it does the OPPOSITE. It would remove natural gas pipelines from "Right to Know" reporting requirements. Just on the face of it, the bill makes no sense: why remove the public’s right to know about anything (unless possibly national security secrets)? However, natural gas pipelines are potentially hazardous and SHOULD be kept in the “Right to-Know” law. Natural gas (actually methane gas) is potentially hazardous because it can explode. It can leak, which is potentially toxic. Leakage is also damaging to the environment: methane is a greenhouse gas. The only reason for this bill seems to be to protect the profit and reputation of corporations involved in this business. Please vote AGAINST it.
SB275 is a disaster for Louisiana residents, many of whom live under clouds of airborne industrial toxins. Government agencies often do not have resources to monitor all sources of air pollution. Currently there are high-tech state of the art monitors, both stationary (“Purple Air”) and mobile (Aclima) which are producing scientifically publishable data. To have government agencies either prohibit or ignore such data is self-defeating. Please help Louisiana residents and DEFEAT this bill.
As sworn legislators, it is your constitutional job to protect the citizens of Louisiana: passage of these 2 bills would have the exact opposite effect.