After rising for decades, toxic releases to air, water and deepwell injection are declining. For example, toxic water discharges dropped dramatically in 1994 after three companies in the industrial corridor took steps to reduce runoff from their waste gypsum stacks. Regardless of the rate of decrease, these downward trends are headed in the right direction. However, other emission trends are not going down. Toxic releases to surface land and off-site transfers have increased significantly since 1987.
Ozone is still a problem in part of the Industrial Corridor.
Education about and access to environmental and health information is essential to improving the quality of life in the river corridor. In 1991, the State's LEAP to 2000 project held a series of eleven town meetings throughout the state. Citizens feel a responsibility for not only voicing their concerns to public officials but also for educating themselves about the environment and human impact on natural processes. However due to the state's low educational attainment, Louisiana faces a real challenge in increasing public awareness of environmental risk and management. Public perception of toxic pollutants and emission reduction trends are often at odds.