Statement Re: LDEQ Minor Source Air Permit Application Status
Sunrise Foods is committed to being a long-term partner of the Port of New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, and the Lower Ninth Ward community.
As our organic transloading facility at the Port of New Orleans’ Alabo Street Wharf—the nation’s first dedicated organic port—advanced from concept planning to final design, updated analysis confirmed that our processing needs and capacity are significantly lower than anticipated. With this reduced volume, projected emissions are approximately half the threshold that would require a minor source air permit under state regulations. Sunrise Foods has therefore withdrawn its LDEQ application.
We remain fully committed to all applicable regulatory and permitting requirements—prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of our employees, neighbors, and the environment. In partnership with Ramboll, a leading environmental consulting firm, Sunrise Foods will implement voluntary air monitoring to assure stakeholders that facility emissions remain within LDEQ thresholds and align with Ramboll’s air-quality assessment, which indicated our operations would have minimal impact on regional air quality. A Q&A with additional information can be found below.
This September, Sunrise Foods, alongside environmental specialists, will participate in an informational community meeting hosted by the Port of New Orleans and Louisiana elected officials. The meeting will address public feedback, answer community questions, and share information about operational plans.
For questions or topics you would like Sunrise Foods to address at the September informational meeting, please email sunrisenola@sunrisefoods.com. For inquiries related to the Port of New Orleans, contact alabocommunityengagement@portnola.com. For Norfolk Southern inquiries, email NSGovernmentRelations@nscorp.com.
Q&A: Sunrise Foods – LDEQ Minor Source Air Permit
Q: Why did Sunrise Foods withdraw its minor source air permit application?
A: Sunrise Foods initially applied for a minor source air permit to account for projected long-term growth. However, as facility plans were finalized, it became clear that our initial operations—set to begin this fall—would be significantly below the thresholds requiring a permit under Louisiana regulations. Accordingly, we withdrew our application.
Q: What are the thresholds that require a minor source air permit?
A: Under Louisiana law (LAC 33:III.501.B.2.d), a permit is required only if a facility’s emissions exceed:
- 5 tons per year of any one criteria pollutant (e.g., particulate matter, NOx, VOCs),
- 15 tons per year combined of all criteria pollutants, and
- The Minimum Emission Rates (MERs) for toxic air pollutants (TAPs) outlined in Tables 51.1 and 51.3 of LAC 33:III. Chapter 51.
Q: How do Sunrise Foods’ operations compare to those thresholds?
A: An assessment conducted by Ramboll—a leading environmental consulting firm—confirmed that the Alabo Street facility’s projected emissions fall well below all of the regulatory thresholds—estimated at approximately half of the threshold for requiring a permit. Sunrise Foods will document these findings through internal records in accordance with LDEQ guidelines.
Q: Is any minor source air-permit documentation or state approval still required?
A: Because the facility qualifies for a statutory exemption, Sunrise Foods is not required to submit additional documentation or obtain LDEQ approval for a minor source air permit. Sunrise Foods will, however, maintain internal records of its potential emissions to verify continued compliance, as required by LAC 33:III.501.B.2.e.i.
Q: Will Sunrise Foods monitor emissions even though no permit is required?
Although exempt from obtaining a minor source air permit, we are working with Ramboll to implement methods that will demonstrate our emissions remain below regulatory thresholds and are consistent with Ramboll’s air quality assessment, which found minimal impact on regional air quality. Sunrise Foods will establish air quality monitoring stations at the Alabo Street Wharf. These stations will provide ongoing data to ensure the effectiveness of our dust mitigation measures in minimizing environmental impact on the surrounding community.
We are committed to listening to the community and will share more details about our monitoring program at the September informational meeting. This engagement will help ensure the monitoring addresses the main concerns of residents and leaders.
Q: How does Sunrise Foods’ facility compare to other grain operations in the region?
A: Our facility is a very small part of grain handling along the Lower Mississippi River port complex. In 2023, the region exported about 63.4 million tons of grains and oilseeds (USDA AMS). Sunrise’s projected throughput—only a few hundred-thousand tons annually—is well under 1 percent of this total (≈0.5%). This limited scale is a key reason our expected dust and emissions are low and the operation qualifies for a regulatory exemption.
Q: When does Sunrise Foods expect to begin operations at the Alabo Street Wharf?
A: Sunrise Foods anticipates beginning operations this fall, following the completion of current pre-construction work and subsequent construction phases.
Q: How do Sunrise Foods’ projected PM 2.5 emissions compare to everyday sources?
A: Near-roadway studies funded by the EPA’s Health Effects Institute show that living one city block (~100 m) closer to a busy road can raise annual PM 2.5 by roughly 1–2 µg/m³. Ramboll’s modeling indicates that Sunrise’s operations would add only about 0.2 µg/m³ at the nearest homes—just 10–20% of that “one-block” increment, demonstrating minimal air-quality impact (HEI 2010; Karner et al. 2010; Zhu et al. 2002).
Q: Are there plans for future phases at the Alabo Street Wharf?
A: At this time, no design or volume projections are finalized for future expansion. Any additional phase would be several years away and would proceed after further community engagement, updated environmental reviews, and confirmation that initial operations are running safely and responsibly. Should Sunrise Foods expand within its 15-year lease, we will adhere to all regulatory standards and continue to be a transparent, socially responsible neighbor to the community.
