Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. Today, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act against Denka Performance Elastomer LLC (Denka) to compel Denka to significantly reduce hazardous chloroprene emissions from its neoprene manufacturing facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. The agency is now under a court order to get it done. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise. Facebook, Follow us on Please click here to see any active alerts. 2021 Recap Video. 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. LaPlace is in the majority-Black St. John the Baptist Parish,about 30 miles outside of New Orleans. Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Louisiana. Its been a long time coming. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. After the visit, Regan sent a letter to Denka urging executives to take steps to reduce the threat to those living in the surrounding towns of Laplace and Reserve. Reader support helps sustain our work. DPE is in compliance with its air permits and applicable law. EPA is finally treating this health crisis for what it isan emergency. What remains to be seen, she told Grist in an email, is how much and how fast it will be enforced. for more information. As part of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Grist moved its office headquarters to the Bullitt Center in Seattles vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. licenses and permits previously issued to taxpayers that have failed to meet their tax obligations. 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 . She also served as Executive Counsel to Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and practiced law with a Baton Rouge firm. A lock (
On Jan. 23, taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns electronically through Louisiana File Online, the states free web portal for individual tax filers. On Tuesday, residents and advocates celebrated the news, describing it as justice long overdue. The department will issue paper checks to all taxpayers submitting completed vouchers by the Oct. 6 deadline. Lock
"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. 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. Justice.gov; News; 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. The re-opening of the office provides the area with a vital resource for the resolution of a wide range of state tax matters, in addition to any business they might have with the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, which will have staff assigned there.. The lawsuit contains further details of the plants recent chloroprene emissions, which fell after Denka constructed emissions offset technology after its purchase of the plant, but still remains dangerously high and in some locations 14 times over the recommended exposure limit.
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outreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. Because we remain committed to customer service, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is pleased to accept your tax payments via credit card. 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 plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. The company has been lobbying the federal government for years, claiming the compounds peer-reviewed classification is based on outdated science. In November 2021, EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited people living near the facility during his Journey to Justice tour, a survey of polluted communities across the south. The air samples were taken at or across the street from a nearby elementary school. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Biden administration sued a chemical company operating in southeast Louisiana on Tuesday, compelling it to face up to the cancer risk generated by its toxic emissions, a move that activists have been demanding for years. The office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. 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. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise.. Official websites use .gov The Monroe Regional Office will be open for walk-in customer service Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., no appointments needed. The company added that it "remains committed to identifying and implementing additional emission reductions where possible.". Director: Joe Picone More The complaint also names DuPont Specialty Products USA LLC the owner of the land beneath Denkas facility and Denkas landlord. On Tuesday, Regan said in a statement that the company had not moved far enough or fast enough on those requests. This action is not the first step we have taken to reduce risks to the people living in St John the Baptist Parish, and it will not be the last.. Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. Taxpayers using credits cards to pay outstanding balances due the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) must plan for additional transaction time if
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WASHINGTON Today, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act against Denka Performance Elastomer LLC (Denka) to compel Denka to significantly reduce hazardous chloroprene emissions from its neoprene manufacturing facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. This complaint seeks to compel Denka to eliminate the public health endangerment caused by its emissions by greatly reducing the levels of chloroprene to which this community is being exposed. 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. .
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Denkas facility manufactures neoprene, a flexible, synthetic rubber used to produce common goods like wetsuits, beverage cozies, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, and automotive belts and hoses. 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. 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 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. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request. Denkas chloroprenes emissions reach more than 300 young children who attend the 5th Ward Elementary School, located within approximately 450 feet of Denkas facility. DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment. St. Charles Parish Waterworks 301 Third Street Luling, LA 70070 985-783-5110 http://stcharlesparish-la.gov/ Need Help Paying? Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. 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. Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. This makes me feel like we have something to look forward to, not five or 10 years from now we need it to happen now.. The EPA said it found during an investigation that state agencies had failed to provide residents with information about the cancer risks associated with chloroprene levels in the area, among other problems. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. Unveiled on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges emissions at the Pontchartrain Works facility in Reserve, Louisiana, violate the Clean Air Act and present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare. In particular, he expressed concern for the 300 students attending the nearby Fifth Ward Elementary School. 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. Serves as legal advisor and legal representative to all Louisiana gaming regulatory agencies. YouTube, Follow us on Once taxpayer obligations are
Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (800) 423-2129 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy Powered By (888) 617-1811 | help@paystar.co We noticed your internet browser is not supported. Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Chief Deputy Attorney General: Bill Stiles, Communications
Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. DuPont sold the plant to Denka in 2015 in a secretive deal, which the Guardian later revealed was motivated by concerns from DuPont that it would face heavier regulation after the EPAs decision to classify chloroprene as a likely human carcinogen. Facebook, Follow us on Provides legal services to the statein the areas of consumer protection and environmental law, insurance receivership, and fair housing. In such cases, please allow additional time, up to 6 days, for processing. U.S. Government information systems are provided for the processing of official U.S. Government information only. 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
BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. AG Jeff Landry: Be cautious of where you place your bets to ensure you protect your information, receive fair odds, and get paid when you win. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise, Regan said. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. Can you tell if a bomb train is coming to your town? Pursuant to LA R.S. The EPA knew about the threat Denka posed to residents of Reserve and Laplace as early as 2015. Director: Sonia Mallett, Public Protection
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the US, Pontchartrain Works facility in Reserve, Louisiana, enforcement action in the Cancer Alley region, during a site visit to Reserve in November 2021, were part of a years-long Guardian series. Director: Elise Cazes, Civil
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Emissions reductions at Denka has been one of our top priorities at LDEQ, and EPAis nowbuilding on the steps LDEQ took five years ago and our continuing efforts to reduce chloroprene emissions from the Denka facility, said LDEQ Secretary Dr. Chuck Carr Brown. 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. The Fifth Ward elementary school and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka plant, back left, in Reserve, Louisiana. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. The division also initiates litigation to enforce various state laws, including, for example, the master settlement agreement against the nations largest tobacco manufacturers. In a statement, associate attorney general Vanita Gupta said: The justice departments environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water. Director: Mike Dupree. 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 . The move marks a significant escalation of the Biden administrations enforcement action in the Cancer Alley region, and was instantly hailed by members of the predominantly Black community around the plant as a major victory in their ongoing campaign for clean air. ContractforProfessionalLegalServicesTemplate.pdf, GuidetoLAJPCourts2ndEdition9.28.2021forweb.pdf, AmendedOpenMeetingsGuidanceinlightofCOVID-19andtherecentpassageofR.S.4217.1.pdf. have been levied for prior non payment. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange. On Feb. 28, 2023, the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency filed a lawsuit against the . Director: Angelique Freel, Criminal
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. System personnel may give to law enforcement officials any potential evidence of crime found on U.S. Government information systems. 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. 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 state's natural resources, lands and water . Services include: The office is located in the Northeast Louisiana State Office Building at 24 Accent Drive, Suite B500, Monroe, LA 71203. Director: Joe Picone, Litigation
Denka's facility is along a stretch of the Mississippi River that activists and residents have nicknamed "Cancer Alley" because of the unusually high cancer risk among communities there and the emissions that come from the numerous plants in the area. IE 11 is not supported. Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. 0:00 / 3:50.
to LDR on weekends or holidays, your payment will be processed on the following business day. Custom payment integrations and software development. Denkas facility is the only one in the country that makes neoprene, a type of synthetic rubber used for wetsuits and mousepads, a process which releases the carcinogen chloroprene. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS method of making certain that your payments are received and posted correctly and on-time. ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Payment Processing for utilities, government, businesses. The Department of Justice receives hundreds of legal questionsevery year from state and local authorities, resulting in opinions that carry significant weight in the legal community. 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. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. They know they can comply, Hampton said. Instagram, Follow us on Every justice of the peace and constable is required to attend the Justices of the Peace Training course offered by the attorney general at least once every other year. Children under the age of 16 are particularly vulnerable to mutagenic carcinogens like chloroprene. The date coincides with the date the IRS begins accepting federal income tax returns. Health crisis for what it isan emergency.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United.. Dupont did not immediately respond to a request for comment at or across the from. 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