Florida Gas Transmission’s compression station at 2747 Fournerat Road will be designated a major source of hazardous air pollution under a permit modification and renewal it has applied for, though the amount involved is not considered dangerous.

The natural gas compression station emits criteria pollutants as a by-product of the use of machinery that pushes gas from wells to transmission lines.

Florida Gas is seeking an altered permit due to changes in federal regulations and standards for hazardous air pollutants for internal combustion engines.

The La. Dept. of Environmental Quality, according to public noticed published in The Eunice News, will accept comment on the proposal until March 21.

The primary issue in the revised permit application is formaldehyde, the emission of which is estimated to rise from about 7 tons a year to approximately 8 tons.

The Environmental Protection Agency published a draft report last June declaring formaldehyde a carcinogen and has a hand in regulating its emissions. The concerns are primarily at such heavy industry sites as wood yards, plywood plants, paint plants and the like.

Environmental scientists say the danger of formaldehyde in the air is twofold. Some researchers believe that at lower levels, it accelerates the formation of ozone, the main ingredient of smog. At higher levels, formaldehyde becomes a direct health risk, irritating the eyes, nose and throat, and causing wheezing.

In its permit application, Florida Gas advises it is replacing one natural-gas compressor with a larger one and is taking a generator engine out of service.

Additional information is available from Kyle Prestenbach, 225-219-3753.