In Louisiana, Republican legislators are advancing a bill that would restrict the use of citizen-gathered air quality data in regulatory actions, a move that could hinder local environmental efforts.
Terry L. Jones reports for Floodlight.
In short:
- The proposed legislation will prevent community-collected air quality data from being used to enforce the Clean Air Act.
- This bill is seen as a means to protect industrial interests over public health by critics.
- Federal funds had enabled local groups to enhance air monitoring, revealing critical pollution data.
Key quote:
"I get teary-eyed because for me, it’s been a lifetime of trying to find this kind of technology that communities could have,"
— MaryLee Orr, executive director of LEAN
Why this matters:
Local data collection has been pivotal in drawing attention to discrepancies in air quality that might not otherwise meet the thresholds of federal enforcement, especially in underserved or economically disadvantaged communities. Advocates argue that this kind of grassroots data collection empowers communities, giving residents direct insight into the air they breathe and a more substantial foundation for demanding change.
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