Report says state environmental department’s emission fees low

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality lost $9.8 million between 2002 and 2005 because it does not charge industrial facilities enough for emissions, a new report says.

Provisions in the federal Clean Air Act allow states to charge industrial facilities a minimum dollar figure per ton up to 4,000 tons for air releases of pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and ozone-causing compounds.

States also can charge less than the minimum by proving to federal officials that the lower amount collected will cover the cost of the Clean Air Act program.

The report, released last Wednesday by the Environmental Integrity Project, doesn’t believe that’s the case in Louisiana or 17 other states.

Thomas Bickham, special assistant to DEQ Secretary Mike McDaniel, disagrees. He said this year the program should cost $3.94 million to run and take in $3.92 million in emission fees.

“If we collect too much money, we would not be able to spend it,” he said.

Instead of charging $39.48 per ton, Louisiana charges $12.83 per ton of pollution released by industrial facilities, according to DEQ figures. Changing the fee would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.