Recent ozone overages in Baton Rouge and Port Allen may mean higher gas prices for Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes.
Ozone levels in Baton Rouge and Port Allen exceeded federal standards August 18. To be within regulations, an area must not exceed three violations in a three-year period, and this most recent violation was the fourth in three years.
Jim Hazlett, a senior environmental scientist at the Department of Environmental Quality, said the high ozone levels “basically means we are subjected to having to go with reformulated gasoline.” The EPA will decide when a gasoline switch must be made, but Hazlett estimates it will be around next April unless an extension is approved through legislation.
Additional permitting fees for corporations are also a possible consequence of this ozone violation, which could restrict business growth in the affected areas.
Jean Kelly, a public information officer for the DEQ, said reformulated gas would cost 10 to 15 cents more per gallon. For East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston and Iberville parishes, the five parishes under ozone surveillance, this would mean about an extra $50 million in spending.
It also could affect LSU students who are already stressed financially.
Marie Fandal, a political communications senior, said a rise in prices would encourage her to take the bus more often. Fandal lived in Baton Rouge this summer, but was not aware of any ozone level problems.
“If I knew about it, I’d be more inclined to fill up at night,” she says, referring to one of the individual contributions that can prevent ozone buildup.
Hazlett said these violations “put us out of the running for making attainment for the one hour standard.” The one hour standard is necessary in addition to the eight hour standard so extreme elevations of ozone in short amounts of time do not go unnoticed.
On August 18, the air monitor at the capitol recorded a level of 139 parts per billion, while the Port Allen monitor read 144 parts per billion. The federal maximum for the one hour standard is 125 parts per billion. Although they have already exceeded the one hour standard, the five parishes can prevent further regulation by not exceeding the eight hour standard.
The eight hour standard is an average of the pollution levels during eight hours in a 24 hour period. The limit for this standard is 85 parts per billion, and all five parishes are within regulations for this standard.
According to the Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition Web site, an individual can help prevent an overage by limiting driving, refueling after 6 p.m., delaying or rescheduling lawn care, avoiding the use of lighter fluid on grills and conserving energy in homes.
These actions can help to prevent the many consequences that come with exceeding ozone regulations. The DEQ issues ozone warnings on days that are
forecasted to be hazardous.
Kelly said “on the whole, air quality is better than it was 30 years ago.” However, efforts by residents of the affected parishes must be maintained to keep ozone levels within boundaries, or these parishes will have to respond to even more regulations.