The complaint, first reported by NBC News, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District . Donate today to keep our climate news free. On Tuesday, Regan said in a statement that the company had not moved far enough or fast enough on those requests. Suing on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the justice department is now seeking a federal court order to compel Denka (DPE), the Japanese chemical giant operating the facility, to immediately take all necessary measures to curb emissions of the compound chloroprene, labeled by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. The complaint, first reported by NBC News, was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for Eastern Louisiana on behalf of the EPA under the Clean Air Act. ; otherwise, In such cases, please allow additional time, up to 6 days, for processing. Lock method of making certain that your payments are received and posted correctly and on-time. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. Pursuant to LA R.S. If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange. Walmart, Target, Home Depot lead pack of retailers emitting millions of pounds of CO2 through shipping, Georgians plead with state officials to protect the Okefenokee from mining. Taxpayers using credits cards to pay outstanding balances due the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) must plan for additional transaction time if 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Approximately 1,200 children who attend East St. John High School, located roughly a mile-and-a-half north of Denka, are also exposed to the facilitys chloroprene emissions. 0:10. 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taking an unprecedented step deviating from its permitting and rulemaking authorities to allege an emergency based on outdated and erroneous science the agency released over 12 years ago, the statement said. PayStar Payment Portal PayStar Payment Portal 95 Louisiana Attorney General Louisiana Attorney General Educational Other Debt Revenue State Agency Cancel P.O. 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. "EPAs allegation directly contradicts the agencys own prior statements, credible data on health in St. John the Baptist Parish and the best available science on the chemical chloroprene," the statement said. The lawsuit also names a subsidiary of the US chemicals giant DuPont, which constructed the Pontchartrain Works facility as a neoprene plant and operated it for over half a century. 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 office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. Children under the age of 16 are particularly vulnerable to mutagenic carcinogens like chloroprene. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. 36:703. The company added that it "remains committed to identifying and implementing additional emission reductions where possible.". The revelations were part of a years-long Guardian series examining air pollution in Reserve and throughout Cancer Alley. In the event that your payment takes over 6 days to post to your LDR account, please feel free to call our taxpayer services department for additional The suit claims that emissions remain so high that a child breathing air near certain monitors around the facilitys fence line would exceed their lifetime excess cancer risk within two years. Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 Twitter, Follow us on DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Director: Elise Cazes, Civil Denka Performance Elastomer, a synthetic rubber manufacturing plant owned by a Japanese company of the same name, is located half a mile from an elementary school in St. John the Baptist Parish, where the air is laced with toxic chemicals emitted by dozens of different industrial facilities and more than 60 percent of residents are Black. USE OF THIS SYSTEM BY ANY USER, AUTHORIZED OR UNAUTHORIZED, CONSTITUTES YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CONSENT TO THIS MONITORING, INTERCEPTION, RECORDING, READING, COPYING, OR CAPTURING AND DISCLOSURE. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. The plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 0:00 / 3:50. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. The parish sits along the Mississippi River just north of New Orleans in the states main industrial corridor, a region commonly known as Cancer Alley., This brings us hope, said Mary Hampton, president of the local advocacy group Concerned Citizens of St. John, which was founded in 2016. "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. have been levied for prior non payment. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 708049005 (225) 326-6079. But the estimated pollution-related cancer risk in the area is still one of the highest in the country, according to the EPA. Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Provides follow-up investigation services for the Criminal Division; responds to requests for investigative assistance from government agencies, including the apprehension of fugitives; and provides investigative services in cyber crimes, white collar crimes, and public corruption. The complaint asserts that the LaPlace plants operations present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare due to the cancer risks from Denkas chloroprene emissions. The complaint also names DuPont Specialty Products USA LLC the owner of the land beneath Denkas facility and Denkas landlord. 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. The EPA knew about the threat Denka posed to residents of Reserve and Laplace as early as 2015. Denka said in a statement that it has reduced emissions by about 85% since it took over the plant in 2015. Over the six years we have been fighting this fight we havent had anything as great as this to happen in terms of getting concrete action on emissions., Speaking to the Guardian, Taylor added: The state government has totally ignored us marches on the capitol, rallying they wouldnt even give us an audience. The complaint asserts that the LaPlace plants operations present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare due to the cancer risks from Denkas chloroprene emissions. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. Serves as the principal liaison between the Attorney General's Office, the media, and the public. BATON ROUGE Thousands of Louisiana taxpayers have until Thursday, Oct. 6 to claim millions of dollars in state income tax refunds before the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) transfers them to the states Unclaimed Property fund. are NOT included in the balance due to LDR. Its litigation reflects the diversity of government activities, involving, for example, the defense of challenges to state programs, actions and laws; debt collection owed to the state; and protection of the states natural resources, lands and water bottoms. ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. You may also email request to: ODRPaymentPlan@LA.Gov Be sure to include Name, Debtor # and a Call Back Number. Japanese company Denka, along with US chemicals giant DuPont, have operated the plant that produces cancer-causing chloroprene. 3 min read. In particular, he expressed concern for the 300 students attending the nearby Fifth Ward Elementary School. Over the years, Denka has committed to taking steps to reduce the plant's emissions. The office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. The Department of Justice is seeking to compel a chemical manufacturing plant to curb its emissions in a region where the estimated cancer risk is among the highest in the United States. DuPont is a necessary party to ensure there are no delays in any actions that Denka is ordered to take to reduce its chloroprene emissions as a result of the rights DuPont holds under its lease agreement with Denka. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at collectionsinfo@ag.louisiana.gov or by phone at 225-326-6550 or 1-800-423-2129. Custom payment integrations and software development. 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. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise, Regan said. Chloroprene is a liquid raw material used to produce neoprene and is emitted into the air from various areas at the facility. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. SBA Borrowers: View loan information or make a payment at the new MySBA site. Denka Performance Elastomers manufactures neoprene at its chemical plant in Reserve, La. Moreover, our priorities go beyond prosecuting criminals and litigating cases, as we serve our community through a variety ofoutreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. For returns submitted electronically, taxpayers due refunds can expect them within 45 days of the filing date. Serves as legal advisor and legal representative to all Louisiana gaming regulatory agencies. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. If you have any questions regarding TEFRAs, Contracts, or Resolutions - you may contact Michelle Boutte at bouttem@ag.louisiana.gov or Monica Reed at reedm@ag.louisiana.gov. Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. Justice.gov; News; This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise. They know they can comply, Hampton said. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (800) 423-2129 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy Powered By (888) 617-1811 | help@paystar.co Mary Hampton, another founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish, said the lawsuit was the culmination of years of advocacy from community members and represented that finally we have a little hope. Mallett earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and her law degree from Loyola . 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 . EPA administrator gives update on commitment to curbing pollution in communities of color. WASHINGTON Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presents an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding . Rights Division and the public on those requests, update your contact information with LDR added it... 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