Louisiana communities are left in the dark on toxic air, and industry helped keep it that way

Here were the findings:Ten of Louisiana’s heaviest air-polluting facilities operate without a single public air monitor within 5 miles. They also helped draft a 2024 law that sharply restricted how community air monitoring could be used in enforcement. As of July 2026, Katner says the lack of air monitoring data serves as a shield for polluters. LDEQ operates 35 permanent air monitoring stations and says that it maintains “a robust air monitoring network that meets and exceeds all regulatory requirements.” While community advocates have pushed for more air monitoring, Louisiana has moved in the opposite direction.