La. (KPLC) – Six environmental groups have gone to federal court to stop a law they say attacks their fundamental right to free speech. It has to do with sampling the air in their communities and publishing the results.

Micah 6:8 members try to follow the sacred scripture for which the group is named: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Cindy Robertson founded the group, which tests the air with equipment she says was funded by the EPA.

“While EPA bought purple air monitors for a lot of folks in this state, it’s not one of the things they use for regulatory information. What we had wanted to do was use our information to inform the community,” Robertson said.

Depending on the level of particulate matter, which is smoke and soot in the air, the group would post a color code indicating the air quality, which is especially important for those with breathing trouble.

“It appalls me that I have people asking me for information and I can’t give it to them even though I have it,” Robertson said.

The law establishes standards for community programs to make sure data is accurate. However, Robertson says they don’t have access to more expensive equipment like the industry and the state. She says they have stopped publishing test results on the advice of lawyers,

“If we put that information out, we are potentially subject to a $32,500 a day fine. Then if we do it intentionally, which if we put it up on Facebook, obviously it’s intentional, it’s a million-dollar fine,” Robertson said.

However, the head of the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) says the goal of the law is not to silence community voices but to ensure that regulatory action is based on high-quality, validated science.

David Cresson, President and CEO of LCA/LCIA, provided the following statement:

“The Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act does not prevent community groups from collecting or sharing air quality data. Community members are fully free to raise concerns, publish findings, and engage with the public or agencies to promote awareness. What this law clarifies is that if air monitoring data is going to be used to trigger regulatory enforcement, penalties, or as the sole source for a lawsuit, it must meet the same EPA-approved standards already required of industry and government agencies.

Air monitoring is a precise science, and decisions based on that data carry serious consequences. This law ensures that any information used for formal action comes from certified, calibrated equipment and follows standardized procedures. While air monitoring with equipment not certified for regulatory use can help raise awareness and identify potential concerns, regulatory and legal decisions must be grounded in scientifically validated methods that meet established EPA standards.

The goal of this law is not to silence community voices, but to ensure that regulatory action is based on high-quality, validated science. Community engagement and vigilance are essential, and air monitoring plays an important role across agencies, industry, and local groups. This law reinforces that when air monitoring data is used in formal enforcement or legal proceedings, it must meet established scientific standards. These standards exist to ensure consistency, accuracy, and reliability in decision-making, regardless of who collects the data.”

For links to audio of a news conference, a link to the new law, and a link to the lawsuit, click HERE.

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