Proposal to allow industrial plants to self-inspect and correct violations heading to governor's desk
Proposal to allow industrial plants to self-inspect and correct violations heading to governor's desk
Proposal to allow industrial plants to self-inspect and correct violations heading to governor's desk
WELL SPEAKING OF THE LEGISLATIVESESSION A NEW VOLUNTARY SELFAUDIT BILL IS HEADING TO THEGOVERNOR’S DESK.IT WILL ALLOW INDUSTRIAL PLANTSTO SELF-CHECK AND CORRECTPOLLUTING VIOLATIONS BRADLEYBENOIT TAKES A LOOK AT THEPROPOSAL AND WHY SOME SOME SAYIT’S A BAD IDEA.HOUSE BILL 72 WILL ALLOW ANNAINDUSTRIAL PLANTS THESELF-INSPECT THEMSELVES THECOMPANIES WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TOCORRECT ANY POLLUTING VIOLATIONSAND EXCHANGE FOR POSSIBLYLOWERING SOME OF THEIR FINES.THE LEGISLATION IS NOW ON THEGOVERNOR’S DESK IF GOVERNOREDWARD SIGNS IT LOUISIANA WOULDCOME TO 22ND STATE WITH SELFAUDIT PROGRAMS.WE SPOKE TO THE SPONSOR OF THEBILL LAFAYETTE REPRESENTATIVEJOHN PAUL KUSON.THE BILL IS A DEPARTMENT BILL INORDER TO INCENTIVIZE COMPANIESTO A HIGHER STANDARD O SELFSELF-INSPECTIONS THE TITLE OFTHE BILL IS SELF AUDIT, BUTPRACTICALLY SPEAKING WE’RETALKING ABOUT DOING ANDRECEIVING THOUSANDS OF MOREINSPECTIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY EACH YEARTHAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULDOTHERWISE NOT GET I THINK IT’S AVALUABLE PROGRAM TO THE STATEAND I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE AGOOD PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEQAND THE INDUSTRY AND THEPARTICIPANTS THAT ACTUALLY BE APART OF THE PROGRAM.HOWEVER CRITICS ARGUE THIS BILLSTILL ALLOWS INDUSTRIALPOLLUTERS TO HIDE THEIRPOLLUTING EVENTS FROM THE PUBLICFOR UP TO TWO YEARS.OBVIOUSLY, THAT’S BAD POLICYCOMMUNITIES HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOWWHAT’S GOING ON IN THEINDUSTRIES THAT BORDER OR THATCOULD IMPACT THEIR THE THEIRLIVES SO THAT THEY CAN RESPONDACCORDINGLY THE KEY.TO TRUE ENVIRONMENTALENFORCEMENT IS ADEQUATELYFUNDING OUR LDEQ IF THELEGISLATURE WANTS TO HELP.IMPROVE OUR STATUS AS ONE OF THEWORST POLLUTING STATES IN THECOUNTRY.WHAT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDSTO DO IS ADEQUATELY FUND THEDEQ.I’M BRA
