The mission of the Air Quality Program is to protect and enhance the air quality of Louisiana to promote the health, welfare, and productivity of its citizens. Louisiana contains 25% of the nation's chemical industry and is one of the most heavily industrialized states in the nation. Of the 50 states, it has been ranked in the top 5 in the amount of air toxins reported for the years that data has been released by the Environmental Protection Agency. Toward meeting its goal, this program provides an efficient means to develop, implement and enforce regulations, inventory and monitor emissions, and permit activities consistent with laws and regulations. The goal of the Air Quality Program is to reduce air pollutants to levels which comply with national air quality standards. The activities in this program are: Air Quality, Asbestos, and Lead.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. The Air Quality Program will continue to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards in parishes that are currently in attainment with the standards while ensuring that the Baton Rouge area will be in attainment with the ozone standard by June 30, 1999.
1. Stationary, area, and mobile sources for ozone nonattaintment areas. Although the non-attainment area is now 2 parishes smaller, emissions are reported from the original seven parishes so comparisons can be made from year to year.
2. Recent studies indicate that the reduction of nitrogen oxides does not reduce the formation of ozone in the South Louisiana environment. Regulation to reduce the emission of these chemicals has been discontinued. The level of emission should remain near present levels.
3. Stations in Baton Rouge ozone non-attainment areas.
2. The Department of Environmental Quality and the Office of Planning and Budget do not agree upon a mutually acceptable objective for this performance information.
1. The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is compiled according to EPA regulations and is based upon currently regulated chemicals. As EPA adds or deletes chemicals from regulation, they are likewise added or deleted from the inventory. Consequently, while this is the official federal inventory it is variable through time and reductions in tonnage are due, in part, to the delisting of chemicals.
2. The Toxic Emissions Data Inventory (TEDI) which began in 1991 is more consistent through time but includes some chemicals which have been removed from federal regulation.
3. The Air Quality Program will reduce the public's exposure to asbestos hazards by ensuring compliance with state and federal asbestos regulations in those schools or state buildings or during demolition/renovations where asbestos is present and by ensuring a properly trained asbestos workforce is available during FY 1998-99.
4. The Department of Environmental Quality and the Office of Planning and Budget do not agree upon a mutually acceptable objective for this performance information.
1. Rules promulgated 12/20/97 apply only to target housing and child-occupied buildings.
2. Public outreach involves lead-based paint hazard awareness projects directed toward private and public housing, child care facilities, painters, remodelers and others who may disturb lead-based paint.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with Fees and Self-Generated Revenues, Statutory Dedications and Federal Funds. Fees and Self-Generated Revenues are derived from the sale of regulations, manifest forms, photocopies, etc. Statutory Dedications are derived from the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) and the Lead Hazard Reduction Fund (LHRF). (Per R.S. 39:32B. (8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) The ETF consists of all fees assessed pursuant to the authority granted in R.S. 30:2014, R.S. 39:55.2 and any other provisions of law authorizing the department to assess a fee. Such fees are used only for the purposes for which they were assessed. The LHRF consist of all fees assessed pursuant to the authority granted in R.S. 30:235, R.S. 39:55.2 and any other provisions of law authorizing the department to assess a fee. Federal Funds are from the Clean Air Act, (Section 105) as amended, P.L. 95095 42 USC 7504, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (Sections 28 and 404(g)).
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 100% of the existing operating budget. It represents 97% of the total request ($13,523,425) for this program. The net increases in this program are due to: funding being provided for incumbent adjustments and automatic upgrades; a new/expanded request for implementing the particulate matter (PM) for fine monitoring program and annualization of 31 positions added during the Regular Session of 1997. This program does not have any positions that have been vacant for 1 year or more.
ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS
13 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY