The individual companies and their employees who compose the St. John Industrial Group maintain a strong commitment to the environment.  Each company continually works to find better ways to reduce emissions, while maintaining production.

In addition to the many volunteer activities and financial contributions made by the St. John Industrial Group members, their strong commitment to our air, water and land includes projects to inform and educate the community. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), along with several state agencies, provide extensive information available online regarding pollution. The St. John
Industrial Group encourages you to visit these web sites.

Today, all of Louisiana meets the one-hour standard and eight-hour federal air quality standard for ozone in place until 2010.  DEQ Secretary Harold Leggett recognized this milestone and commemorated the accomplishment in January, 2009.

Carbon Sequestration
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html#ggo

Carbon sequestration is the process through which plant life removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores it in biomass. Over the course of a year, plants remove and release CO2 and net sequestration results if the rate of removal is higher than the rate of release. Young, fast-growing trees in particular will remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Agricultural and forestry practices can enhance the rate of carbon sequestration, or cause net emissions, depending on the overall balance. The term “sink” is a broader term used to describe agricultural and forestry lands or other processes that absorb or sequester CO2, and other chemical processes that remove other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (e.g., methane).

All land areas such as farms, grasslands and forests can be sources, or sinks, of CO2, depending on the particular agricultural and forestry practices on these lands. In the U.S., forests and other types of lands have been significant sinks since 1990, due in large part to forest and soil management practices. Nationally, carbon sequestration offset, or removed, 13% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2006. The largest share came from forest growth, increasing forest area and an increase in the amount of carbon stored in durable wood products. The rate of carbon sequestration has decreased since 1990, particularly in forests. ¹

 ¹ http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html#ggo

(See related Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse Gas article on page 9.)

Water quality in Louisiana is managed under the two broad areas of surface water and groundwater. Surface water management seeks to protect the quality of all waters of the state, including rivers, streams, bayous, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries and many other types of surface water. Groundwater management seeks to protect the quality of all waters found in underground aquifers as well as the surface water sources of that groundwater.²

Simple Steps to Save Water

Saving water around the home is simple and smart. The average household spends as much as $500 per year on its water and sewer bill but could save about $170 per year by retrofitting with water efficient fixtures and incorporating watersaving practices. ³

A few ideas found in the downloadable newsletter include:

• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes
• Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save 8 gallons per day.
• Water your lawn or garden during the cool morning hours, as opposed to midday, to reduce evaporation.

In St. John Parish when we think of water, the Mississippi River comes to mind. (On page 11, the Mississippi River is highlighted.)

Cultural Impact of the Mississippi River as its setting:

• William Faulkner – Many of his novels were set along the Mississippi River
• Mark Twain – Life on the Mississippi and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Herman Melville – The Confidence Man

Additionally, much music, including the stage and movie musical Show Boat’s Ol’ Man River, refer to the Mississippi and its cultural and historical influence.

² http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/69/Default.aspx
³ http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2927/Default.aspx

The Department of Natural Resources on its land pollution web site page reports, “Heavy rainfall in Louisiana rinses a variety of pollutants off the land, sending them into our canals, bayous, rivers, lakes and estuaries. This ‘nonpoint source pollution’ comes from scattered sources and is not discharged from a single concentrated ‘point source’, such as a pipe outlet. Nonpoint source pollutants are rinsed off streets and parking lots, and washed from crop fields, livestock pens, construction sites and from lands on which some type of forestry operation is being conducted. Some of this pollution makes its way to our salt marshes, beaches, oyster beds, bays and other coastal waters.” 4

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Division (LDNR/CMD) is the lead state agency responsible for developing and implementing Louisiana’s Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program (CNPCP) work plan. LDNR/CMD works closely with Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), the Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program (LSGCP) and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LCES). 5

As illustrated by the nonpoint pollution control program, many state agencies work together to balance conservation and resources to accomplish the greatest benefit with the least amount of damage.

4 http://dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/interagencyaff/nonpoint/agri_bro.asp
5 http://dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/interagencyaff/nonpoint/control.asp

Are you involved with a civic organization or own your own business? If so, consider enrollment in the Louisiana Environmental Leadership Program. Many of the St. John Industrial Group members participate.

The Louisiana Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a voluntary program led by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) in partnership with businesses, federal entities, parish/municipal government units, academic and community organizations to promote a cleaner and better environment for Louisiana. Any organization located in Louisiana that fits into one of the above groups and is committed to improving the quality of Louisiana’s environment through pollution prevention, waste reduction and other environmental improvements is eligible to join the program as a participating member.6 The St. John Parish Industrial Group is proud to be an active part of the community and support our  environment and economy. Please take time to review this report in its entirety

Thank you.

6 http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/89/Default.aspx

Louisiana and the Mighty Mississippi
Read about the mighty Mississippi River.

Using Carbon Dioxide for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Information on using carbon dioxide for Enhanced Oil Recovery.