On February 28, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s behalf, alleging that two companies are responsible for emitting a dangerous chemical, chloroprene, into the air in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley.’ https://t.co/hpamWuLYPV
The Pontchartrain Works facility, found in LaPlace, Louisiana, is owned by the company Denka, though the land is still owned by the plant’s former owner, DuPont. Denka uses chloroprene to make neoprene, a rubber fabric. https://t.co/rKnQdsEkMX
The EPA lists chloroprene as a hazardous air pollutant and ‘likely human carcinogen,’ with the exposure limit being 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter. https://t.co/XFN61XDj1q
The lawsuit alleges that levels of chloroprene in the air ‘have been consistently greater than 0.2 µg/m3 since at least 2016, and likely for years before then.’ https://t.co/SR7gjczM5z
The agencies say these levels put the people who live around the facility at risk of illness and violate the Clean Air Act. https://t.co/UBBn1oFlJI
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a news release, ‘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... https://t.co/ln7gGN5Foe
...safety of families from harmful chloroprene pollution from the Denka facility. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. https://t.co/IanoYejq7N
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.’ https://t.co/zUIjOBNKo4
According to the Guardian, Denka released a statement disagreeing with the allegations, saying, ‘[Denka] is in compliance with its air permits and applicable law...
...EPA is taking an unprecedented step – deviating from its permitting and rulemaking authorities – to allege an ‘emergency’ based on outdated and erroneous science the agency released over 12 years ago.’
This was made with support from Climate Power.