Is There A Reason Why North Dakota Refuses To MONITOR AIR

Appears Texas monitors air quality.
http://www.caller.com/news/2010/oct/15/tceq-fines-101610/
291,649, air violations, investigated June 18, 2008-Feb. 27, 2009; April 29, 2009-July 17, 2009; Jan 7, 2009-April 22, 2009; for failure to prevent the unauthorized release of more than 36.7 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 298 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, 121 pounds of carbon monoxide, 260 pounds of volatile organic compounds, 21 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 20 pounds of ammonia from the sulfur recovery unit on May 20, 2008; to prevent the unauthorized release of more than 15,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 166 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, 17 pounds of carbon monoxide and 0.5 pounds of volatile organic compounds and 3 pounds of nitrogen oxide from the sulfur recovery unit on July 22, 2008; to submit the final report for an incident in a timely manner; to prevent the unauthorized release of more than 8 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 87 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, 130 pounds of carbon monoxide, 326 pounds of volatile organic compounds, 18 pounds of nitrogen sulfide and 25 pounds of ammonia from the sulfur recovery unit on Dec. 15, 2008; to prevent the unauthorized release of more than 119,100 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 1,200 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, 8,200 pounds of carbon monoxide, 12,500 pounds of volatile organic compounds, 1,200 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 219 pounds of ammonia from four flares
6,000, air violation, investigated Sept. 29, 2009,-Dec. 18, 2009, for failure to prevent the unauthorized release of more than 13,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 760 pounds of hydrogen sulfide during an event that began on Aug. 18, 2009.
I wonder how many fines are on the books in North Dakota for release of hazardous compounds into the air?  Since North Dakota does not comply to the Clean Air Act probably none.

Fracking Wonderland

Clean Up Your Act North Dakota

Court battles against North Dakota continue, why is it so hard to just comply to rules and make this a safe state to live in? It is our right to have CLEAN AIR.

EPA Spars With States, Industry Over Request To Stay SO2 Air Standard
INSIDE EPA ONLINE MAGAZINE - Posted: November 16, 2010
EPA is urging a federal appeals court to reject North Dakota's request to stay implementation of the agency's novel approach for determining whether states are attaining its strict new sulfur dioxide (SO2) ambient air standard, but critics say a stay is vital because of problems with "conservative" modeling EPA is relying on to make attainment decisions.
But EPA in a Nov. 8 response opposes a stay of the rule either in its entirety or of the June 2 deadline for attainment designations, saying North Dakota has not satisfied the "stringent requirements" for obtaining a stay of agency action. The state fails to address any elements of the revised SO2 standards itself and instead targets an "advisory discussion" in EPA's final rule about its anticipated approach to implementing the NAAQS, EPA says.
The American Lung Association (ALA), intervening in the lawsuit to defend the NAAQS, in a Nov. 8 filing also opposes a stay of the standard's implementation. North Dakota "wholly ignores the serious harm from a stay to the health interests of other parties and the public, particularly children, senior citizens, and asthmatics, who are at special risk from the kind of SO2 pollution that EPA's standard limits," according to ALA's filing.

Two environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency in federal court in San Francisco, asserting the EPA did not adequately enforce provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The lawsuit, filed yesterday by the Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians  claims that the agency has failed to crack down on states that did not develop develop and submit plans for meeting air-quality standards. Known as national ambient air quality standards, or NAAQS, the rules limit pollution in order to protect human health and the environment.

The suit states that the EPA has been remiss in following up on the failures of numerous states and protectorates -- among them North Dakota, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands  Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington -- to submit localized plans for meeting air-quality standards.

Everyone Worried About North Dakota Air Quality

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 WildEarth Guardians Takes Aim at North Dakota Clean Air Loopholes EPA Called on to Force State to Revise Air Quality Rules, Hold Polluters Accountable Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x1303 Denver—WildEarth Guardians today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to force the State of North Dakota to close its clean air loopholes and guarantee full protection of public health and welfare from air polluters. “This is about being safe, not sorry,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “Air pollution limits exist to keep our health and our environment safe; it’s critical that we ensure compliance at all times, not just when it’s most convenient for polluters.” In a petition filed with the Administrator of the EPA, WildEarth Guardians targeted provisions in North Dakota’s air quality regulations that grant exceptions to meeting clean air standards. One provision in particular allows the State to grant “variances” from complying with emission limits that are meant to protect public health. The EPA has stated that it “agrees this rule should be revised.” See http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-13051.htm. “We don’t provide variances to speed limits and we certainly shouldn’t allow polluters to skirt complying with our basic clean air safeguards,” said Nichols. “It’s time to close up North Dakota’s loopholes.” States must adopt a set of air quality regulations that are consistent with the federal Clean Air Act. If their regulations are contrary to the Clean Air Act, the EPA can call for their revision. In today’s petition, WildEarth Guardians is calling on the EPA to require the State of North Dakota to revise its air quality regulations to close the loopholes and come into compliance with the Clean Air Act. WildEarth Guardians has called on the Administrator to respond to the petition within 60 days.

This interest All interests Search:

EPA facts on AIR POLUTION

I came across this article this morning, it is reassuring to know that the State of North Dakota is looking out for the health or the residents. http://www.epa.gov/air/particlepollution/actions.html  

• The following States/territories failed to submit SIPs to satisfy the basic program requirements for managing PM_2.5  air quality: 
• Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Vermont, Washington
• 
  

EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) -- 2006 PM2.5 Standard
May 28, 2010 - EPA issued findings that 29 states missed Clean Air Act deadlines for submitting plans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPA’s national air quality standards for the 2006 PM2.5.

• The following 29 states and territories failed to submit interstate transport SIPs:
  o Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,
  Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
  South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming,
  the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
  Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• On September 21, 2006, EPA revised its NAAQS for PM2.5 by significantly
  strengthening the 24-hour standards from 65μg/m3 to 35μg/m3. Thousands of scientific
  studies have linked exposure to these tiny particles - approximately 1/30th the size of a
  human hair - with serious human health problems including premature death in people
  with heart and lung disease; nonfatal heart attacks; and increased hospital admissions and
  doctor and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
• Now with all the excess tax dollars in North Dakota, enough to set up a saving fund for the future, why is the State not  implementing EPA’s national air quality standards, one of our basic rights, and most important to have clean air to breath. No wonder we see so many obituaries of young people in the local area.

I Need YOUR Help

I have noticed that quite a few people in this area have showed interest in this information. Now I need to pass on some very important information, and PLEASE take 5 minutes of your time and act on this for everyones safety. These are facts, as I have contacted many agencies trying to get help with our air quality in the area, people are sick and getting sicker because of this issue. First, the air monitor in Williston was turned OFF on March 5, 2009 because it was not needed to monitor air. Now the Center of  Disease Control has ruled that there are SEVERE RESPIRATORY ISSUES in this area caused by our AIR QUALITY. Such things as ammonia, VOCS, and sulfurs need to be monitored. Now our head of Air Quality REFUSES to monitor air in Williston and surrounding  area, he thinks he knows more than the Doctors.  Everyone needs to take a minute to call Mr Jim Semerad, head of Air Quality in North Dakota and state concerns about this, his contact info is 701-328-5188, in Bismarck. The EPA Region 8 Toxicologist in Denver is Kristen Keteles, she is very helpful with health issues and very willing to help, her contact info is 303) 312-6039

she has had extensive dealings with these types of health issues in other areas of the country and very helpful. If everyone will act on this and pass this info on to others, maybe we can get something done so we can live in this area and not be sick or die of cancer.

Very Important Latest News

PLEASE take the time to read the latest link attached to this site, it is very important news about what is going on in this area, pass this on to everyone you know, this information may save lives. http://earthworksaction.org/oil_and_gas.cfm is the link, or follow the title on this page A Source of Information and help for individuals with polution problems.