The US justice department has sued the two petrochemical giants behind a facility in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" responsible for the highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A locked padlock
But on-site inspections by the EPA in April and May 2022 found that Denkawas not meeting regulatory requirements for the storage and disposal of chloroprene waste, which contributes to emissions of chloroprene from the plant. That 2021 test, which was not a formal study, found levels approximately four times above the EPAs recommended maximum annual average chloroprene concentration. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. Powered by Paystar. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
In a statement Tuesday, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the Justice Department's move followed his pledge to take strong action for communities living near the plant. The Denka plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, is along a stretch of the Mississippi River that activists and residents have nicknamed Cancer Alley.. Sign In
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The facility is the only site in the US to emit the compound, which is a primary constituent of the synthetic rubber neoprene. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. Unauthorized or improper use of this information system is prohibited and may subject you to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties. Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request, File returns and pay taxes electronically, Check the status of individual income tax refunds, Submitting completed state individual income tax returns and making payments (staff cannot assist with the completion of tax returns), ATC/Video Poker/Lottery/Drivers License/Wildlife & Fisheries tax clearances, Resolving bank levies and wage garnishments. According to the complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, air monitoring conducted by both the EPA and Denka over the past several years consistently shows long-term chloroprene concentrations in the air near Denkas LaPlace facility that are as high as 14 times the levels recommended for a 70-year lifetime of exposure. If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567.
EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement that he had promised strong action for community members during a site visit to Reserve in November 2021. The justice department complaint does not directly specify that Denka should reduce its emissions to the 0.2 micrograms lifetime exposure recommendation, but cites the guidance throughout the complaint. "The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community," said Regan, who has been vocal about his commitment to environmental justice. Reader support helps sustain our work. The agency is now under a court order to get it done. In its statement, Denka said it strongly disagrees with the federal government's decision to file a legal complaint and with the EPA's assessment of the health risks the plant's emissions pose to the surrounding community. Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. SBA Borrowers: View loan information or make a payment at the new MySBA site. Separately, the two groups sued the EPA for missing a deadline to update its regulations for neoprene manufacturing plants. Design and build by Upstatement. Twitter, Follow us on THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. Hampton urged both Denka and DuPont to comply with the federal governments demands set forth in the lawsuit.
The Fifth Ward elementary school and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka plant, back left, in Reserve, Louisiana. transactions of this sort, is completed through third part vendors (Official Payments Corp. and Payment Tech, Inc.). What should I do if I believe I have paid this debt? Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. YouTube, Follow us on Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presented an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding cuts in toxic emissions. Deena Tumeh, an attorney at the environmental watchdog Earthjustice, said in a statement that the complaint is a long-awaited answer to the communitys repeated calls for immediate action. In total, those changes have cost more than $35 million, the company said in its statement. Facebook, Follow us on document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Fairs, Festivals, and Other Special Events, The Importance of Protecting Client Tax Information, 2022 Practitioner Tax Update Seminar Schedule, Individual Income Tax Credit Card Payments, Update
DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR CRIMINAL PAYMENTS. The plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. EPA administrator gives update on commitment to curbing pollution in communities of color. Mallett earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and her law degree from Loyola .
Your dealings with us should be as quick and painless as possible. . Provides legal representation to the State, its agencies, and its employees in all tort claims seeking damages and defends claims managed by the ORM or any post-secondary education institution granted an exemption from the States risk management program. Email: [email protected] Powered by Paystar Terms of Use| Privacy Policy| met, within 72 hours, LDR will notify and authorize the issuing state agencies to remove such liens. These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. In the aggregate, the thousands of people breathing this air are incurring a significantly higher cancer risk than would be typically allowed, and they are being exposed to a much greater cancer risk from Denkas air pollution than the majority of United States residents face, the suit states. The information you will enter will remain private. The Louisiana Department of Treasury is responsible for overseeing state investments and monitoring the state's cash flow. Should funds be transmitted by these vendors
Contact: dcfs.louisiana.gov 627 N. Fourth St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.524.3578 About the Agency. The Denka Performance Elastomer plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, along the Mississippi River, is the only facility in the U.S. that produces chloroprene, a chemical used in the production of neoprene.
Oversees all departmentoperations. The material was invented by scientists at Dupont, the American chemical giant that owns the complex where Denka operates, and that sold it the neoprene plant in 2015. St. Charles Parish Waterworks 301 Third Street Luling, LA 70070 985-783-5110 http://stcharlesparish-la.gov/ Need Help Paying?
Chief Deputy Attorney General: Bill Stiles, Communications
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method of making certain that your payments are received and posted correctly and on-time. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. Sonia Mallett has spent the majority of the last 25 years serving with the Louisiana Department of Justice. In particular, he expressed concern for the 300 students attending the nearby Fifth Ward Elementary School. It was part of the Biden administrations effort to spotlight concerns of environmental justice, a term that refers to the disproportionate pollution borne by so many low income communities of color across the country. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber found in products such as wetsuits and adhesives. Heres why a California beach town just banned balloons, This is absurd: Train cars that derailed in Ohio were labeled non-hazardous, Why North Dakota is preparing to sue Minnesota over clean energy, Study: Extreme heat is driving deaths in US prisons, In a growing petrochemical hub, the East Palestine derailment triggers an uneasy feeling, One year in, the toxic legacy of war in Ukraine comes into view. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. "This action is not the first step we have taken to reduce risks to the people living in Saint John the Baptist Parish, and it will not be the last.". "The unavoidable closure of our . Even when Denka's facility was shut down for a month in September 2021 after Hurricane Ida, a small monitoring demonstration test by the Louisiana State University School of Public Health revealed detectable levels of chloroprene in two out of 10 air samples, according to the researchers.
outreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. The remaining approximately $9.5 million in funds will be transferred by law to the Unclaimed Property Division of the state treasurers office later this month if not claimed by Oct. 6. They know they can comply, Hampton said. Denkas chloroprenes emissions reach more than 300 young children who attend the 5th Ward Elementary School, located within approximately 450 feet of Denkas facility. The Justice Department's complaint was made under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act, which provides the EPA with the authority to address conditions that present "an imminent and substantial . A statement issued by Denka on Tuesday said the company strongly disagrees with the legal action and urged the EPA to re-evaluate its findings on chloroprene exposure. NOTE: Fees and fines imposed by the licensing agency that are applicable to the reinstatement of the suspended or revoked license/permit
) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. U.S. Government information systems are provided for the processing of official U.S. Government information only. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Have a question about Government Services? The company has been lobbying the federal government for years, claiming the compounds peer-reviewed classification is based on outdated science. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise.. Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. He not only waived any right to appeal, probation, or parole. Children under the age of 16 are particularly vulnerable to mutagenic carcinogens like chloroprene. Director: Chris Hebert, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation
Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. The air samples were taken at or across the street from a nearby elementary school. An official website of the United States government. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. For Credit Card transactions, a state charge of the greater of $2.00 or 2.5% of the total transaction will be added to your invoice in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:316.1 Denka Performance Elastomer LLC makes synthetic rubber, emitting the carcinogen chloroprene, in such high . Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. Justice.gov; News; On Tuesday, Regan said in a statement that the company had not moved far enough or fast enough on those requests. Member Address Seat Information; Landry, Jeffrey M. "Jeff" This action is not the first step we have taken to reduce risks to the people living in Saint John the Baptist Parish, and it will not be the last., We allege that Denkas emissions have led to unsafe concentrations of carcinogenic chloroprene near homes and schools in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. According to EPA calculations, emissions from the former DuPont plant, now owned by Denka, present a risk that is especially grave for children. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department by phone at 1-833-492-0097, or by email at community.louisianadoc@usdoj.gov. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Provides legal services to the statein the areas of consumer protection and environmental law, insurance receivership, and fair housing. Executive Department: Louisiana Public Defender Board: Darrilyn Favorite: Karen Smith: 124: 01-124: Executive Department: Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District: Darrilyn Favorite: Karen Smith: 129: 01-129: Executive Department: Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement & Administration of Criminal Justice: Emily VanNatta: Karen Smith: 130: 03 . Pursuant to LA R.S. Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. The unavoidable closure of our Monroe office deprived taxpayers in northeast Louisiana of a convenient option for in-person customer service, Secretary of Revenue Kevin Richard said. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 708049005 (225) 326-6079. Here's How, When I visited Saint John the Baptist Parish during my first Journey to Justice tour, I pledged to the community that EPA would take strong action to protect the health and safety of families from harmful chloroprene pollution from the Denka facility, Regan said. 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