2013 Path Forward
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2013 Path Forward August 2013 Version 1 South Central Planning and Development Commission 2013 OZONE ADVANCE AUGUST 2013 SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PO BOX 1870 GRAY, LA 985-851-2900 HTTP://WWW.SCPDC.ORG Page 2 2013 Path Forward Contents Introduction 4 The South Central Planning and Development (SCPDC) District 4 The Houma-Thibodaux MPO 4 Parish Population Trends 4 Table 1: Population Projections 4 Map 1: Houma-Thibodaux MPO Area 5 Settlement and Economic Activity 6 Vulnerable Populations 6 Table 2: Vulnerable Populations 6 MPO Structure 6 Map 2: Ports and Airports 7 Collaboration 8 Nearby Examples 8 Map 3: LA Metro Commute Patterns 9 Potential Strategies 9 Measuring Air Quality 10 Table 3: 8- Hour Design Values 10 Table 4: Particulate Matter Readings 10 Outreach and Education 10 Promotional Activities 12 Questions 12 Table 4: Gantt Chart 13 Appendix A: Letters of Participation 19 Appendix B: Meeting Minutes 29 Appendix C: News Articles 90 Page 3 South Central Planning and Development Commission Path Forward cal plants in the River Parishes. The raw materials are moved via a variety of transportation modes, including Introduction pipeline, marine barge, rail freight, and highway. The On July 6, 2012, the Houma-Thibodaux Metropolitan River Parishes also have grain elevators, where product Planning Organization sent a letter to the Environmen- transported down the river from farms in the Mid-West tal Protection Agency (EPA) indicating its participation is stored prior to export. in the Ozone Advance Program. Shortly thereafter, on As the SCPDC district effort develops, this Path For- April 23, 2013, the MPO followed up with another let- ward document for the MPO will serve as a template ter indicating its participation in the Particulate Matter for the Path Forward for the larger, regional, six-parish Advance Program. These letters are included in Appen- document. dix A of this document. As a result of entering into the Advance Program, the MPO has developed this Path The Houma-Thibodaux MPO Forward document outlining the existing and current actions being undertaken to improve the air quality in The Houma-Thibodaux MPO is made up of the -ur the region. banized portions of Assumption, Lafourche and Terre- bonne Parishes. It is located in south Louisiana approx- SCPDC’s participation in the program is predicated on imately 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. The cities the fact that the EPA is reviewing the air quality stan- of Houma, Thibodaux, and the Towns of Lockport and dard for Ozone and may issue a new, more stringent, Golden Meadow, and the Village of Napoleonville are air quality standard for Ozone in 2015. The agency re- located within the MPO’s urban and planning bound- cently established a new, lower standard for particulate aries. The MPO’s population as of the 2010 Census is matter (PM) 2.5. This preliminary Path Forward plan- 144,875, which classifies the area as a “small” MPO. ning document focuses on Ozone and PM in the three Map 1 shows the MPO’s boundaries in relation to the parishes of the Houma-Thibodaux Metropolitan Plan- rest of the South Central Planning and Development ning Organization ( the urbanized areas of Lafourche, District. Terrebonne and Assumption Parishes), referred to as “the MPO.” This is the only MPO serving this partic- Parish Population Trends ular area. This Path Forward document is intended to According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Terrebonne Par- become part of a larger Path Forward plan for the entire ish has the area’s largest population, with over 100,000 South Central Planning and Development Commission residents. Lafourche has a slightly smaller population, (SCPDC) planning district (Assumption, Lafourche, St. just under 100,000 residents, while Assumption is pri- Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Terrebonne marily rural, with less than 25,000 residents. Terrebonne Parishes). St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes and Lafourche have seen steady increases in population. are included in the New Orleans Area MPO. SCPDC is Assumption’s population has stayed steady, with a slight currently working with its member parishes, including decrease. those in the local MPO, to develop a six parish regional Advance Program. Table 1 Population Projections The South Central Planning and Development 2000 2010 2011 2012 Parish (SCPDC) District Census Census Est. Est. The SCPDC region extends from the Gulf of Mexico to Assumption 23,388 23,421 23,176 23,026 the Mississippi River. This area has a linked economy Lafourche 89,974 96,318 96,931 97,029 based on transportation of raw materials (primarily oil Terrebonne 104,503 111,860 111,726 111,893 and natural gas) produced offshore and on the coast for processing at refineries and feed stocks for chemi- Page 4 2013 Path Forward Map 1: Houma-Thibodaux MPO Area Page 5 South Central Planning and Development Commission 2000 2010 2011 2012 as well as related support services (Lafourche and Terre- Parish Census Census Est. Est. bonne Parishes). District 217,865 231,599 231,833 231,948 The three-parish area has two water ports. Port Fourchon, Total at the southern end of Bayou Lafourche, is the hub of deepwater offshore energy exploration and production Vulnerable Populations in the Gulf of Mexico. As such, this port is critical to In all three parishes, about 20% of the populations falls the nation’s energy security. The Port of Terrebonne, on into vulnerable categories—under school age and el- the Houma Navigation Canal and the GIWW is home derly. Both groups are especially susceptible to nega- base for a number of domestic and international com- tive health effects related to air quality issues. Possible panies involved in advanced-manufacturing fabrication health effects include promotion of asthma and other of rigs and vessels for the offshore energy industry. An respiratory ailments in young children and conditions inventory-study of port-related ozone emissions at Port like bronchitis or emphysema in older adults. Fourchon was conducted in 2010 by Starcrest Consult- ing Group and the LSU Center for Energy Studies. Table 2 Vulnerable Populations The MPO area has two airports, one in Houma oper- ated by the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Authority and 2007- Below Median 65 and the other in Galliano operated by the Greater Lafourche Parish 2011 School Age Above Port Commission, which also operates Port Fourchon. Est. Age Both airports are used primarily by helicopters trans- Assumption 1,446 3,116 23,421 39.1 porting workers to offshore rigs, as well as by small 6.2% 13.4% planes. Both airports are also major industrial parks. Lafourche 6,690 11,818 Sandblasting and spray painting at ship and boat yards 95,895 36.5 7% 12.4% generate VOCs and PM 2.5. All three parishes have Terrebonne 8,238 12,533 some agricultural production, primarily cultivation of 111,518 35.0 7.4% 11.2% sugar cane, with attendant agricultural burning. There is also activity in raising of livestock, primarily cattle. Settlement and Economic Activity There are a number of sugar mills in the parishes of La- The three parishes have a mix of small cities, towns and fourche and Assumption. more sparsely populated rural areas. Habitable land is Map 2 shows the ports, airports, rail, and major high- limited, because much of the region is water, wetlands ways in the MPO planning area. and marsh. Settlement patterns tend to be denser than in rural areas with more space. Settlement is generally MPO Structure oriented around the bayous, tidal driven water courses. Land closest to the bayous is high ground and therefore The MPO is staffed by the South Central Planning and less prone to flooding. Lafourche and Assumption both Development Commission. SCPDC is one of the state’s focus around Bayou Lafourche, the largest bayou and eight regional planning and development districts, and the source of drinking water for the all or part of all is governed by a board of directors made up of local three parishes. Terrebonne Parish has five smaller bay- elected officials and business leaders. MPO’s are feder- ous. There are also manmade navigation channels, such ally designated as the party responsible for transporta- as the Gulf Intra-Coastal Waterway (GIWW) and the tion planning in urban areas. As such, MPO’s are often Houma Navigation Canal. The primary economic ac- affected when urban areas fall out of attainment due to tivity in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes is on- and poor air quality. This fact requires MPO’s to consider offshore oil and natural gas exploration and production, the environmental effects of transportation projects and Page 6 2013 Path Forward Page 7 South Central Planning and Development Commission locals.” federal Departments of Transportation and Housing • October 8, 2009. “Everyone would pay for new and Urban Development. By linking transportation, rules.” land use planning and air quality, the H+T Index helps • January 9, 2010. “Ozone standards could bring new track cost burdens for business, industry and families. regulations.” By Nikki Buskey. Such information will be important in encouraging • January 20, 2010. “Industry officials learn about stakeholders like private businesses and families to par- new federal ozone standards.” By Nikki Buskey. ticipate in emission reduction efforts. • July 25, 2010. “Ongoing air testing along Gulf Coast is a first.” by Naomi King. We will continue close collaboration already begun with • October 22, 2010. “You’re invited to help clear the the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. air.” By Nate Monroe. DEQ databases are critical to developing the kind of in- • May 3, 2012. “Houma-Thibodaux area ranks high formation necessary to encourage broad participation for healthy air.” By Nikki Buskey.