Japanese company Denka, along with US chemicals giant DuPont, have operated the plant that produces cancer-causing chloroprene. 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. 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. Eastern District of Louisiana Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. The information you will enter will remain private. 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 only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Powered by Paystar. 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. 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. 0:10. Note: This system may contain Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) data that requires specific data privacy handling. 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 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. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Last January, the environmental watchdog Earthjustice, on behalf of the local advocacy group Concerned Citizens of St. John and the Sierra Club, filed a civil rights complaint with the EPA against Louisianas health department and environmental agency for subjecting Black residents of St. John to disproportionate air pollution from numerous industrial facilities, including Denka. 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 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. 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. Once taxpayer obligations are met, within 72 hours, LDR will notify and authorize the issuing state agencies to remove such liens. 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.. 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. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Mallett earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and her law degree from Loyola . Denka Performance Elastomer LLC makes synthetic rubber, emitting the carcinogen chloroprene, in such high . Please enable cookies before continuing. Director: Millard Mul, Gaming Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. Taxpayers using credits cards to pay outstanding balances due the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) must plan for additional transaction time if Director: Mike Dupree. If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange. 3 min read. 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.. St. Charles Parish Waterworks 301 Third Street Luling, LA 70070 985-783-5110 http://stcharlesparish-la.gov/ Need Help Paying? Separately, the two groups sued the EPA for missing a deadline to update its regulations for neoprene manufacturing plants. 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. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. Denka Performance Elastomers manufactures neoprene at its chemical plant in Reserve, La. Please update your browser to ensure your payment is secure. Its been a long time coming. 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. The EPAidentifiedchloroprene as a likely human carcinogen in 2010. DuPont remains the owner of the land beneath Denkas facility and acts as a landlord, according to the complaint, meaning DuPont may need to grant permissions in order for emissions to be reduced. Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request. 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. And for the administration to come in and do this, it just validates our efforts.. 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, said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. 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. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Denka said in a statement that it has reduced emissions by about 85% since it took over the plant in 2015. The EPA knew about the threat Denka posed to residents of Reserve and Laplace as early as 2015. According to EPA calculations in the suit, current chloroprene emissions present a risk that is especially grave for infants and children under the age of 16. Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. 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. The Justice Departments 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 endangerment to the publics health. The Denka plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, is along a stretch of the Mississippi River that activists and residents have nicknamed Cancer Alley.. 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 The complaint, first reported by NBC News, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District . Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. Director: Joe Picone, Litigation 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. 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. Unauthorized or improper use of this information system is prohibited and may subject you to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties. Director: Elise Cazes, Civil 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. The action raises the stakes in a longstanding conflict between the Louisiana plant, nearby residents and the Environmental Protection Agency. 49:251.1, the Department of Justice has provided training for Louisiana's justices of the peace and constables each year since 1972. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. DPE is in compliance with its air permits and applicable law. Serves as the principal liaison between the Attorney General's Office, the media, and the public. 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. That 2021 test, which was not a formal study, found levels approximately four times above the EPAs recommended maximum annual average chloroprene concentration. In August, LDR sent Notice of Unclaimed Property letters to 20,400 individual and business taxpayers. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Have a question about Government Services? On Tuesday, residents and advocates celebrated the news, describing it as justice long overdue. He not only waived any right to appeal, probation, or parole. 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 BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) will resume full walk-in customer service for individual and business taxpayers in northeast Louisiana with the re-opening of the LDR Monroe Regional Office. 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 . & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Director: Sonia Mallett, Public Protection For those folks who prefer to take advantage of current technology, this is a quick, convenient, and secure Should funds be transmitted by these vendors Director: Angelique Freel, Criminal Member Address Seat Information; Landry, Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Sign In For ACH transactions, a state charge of $2.00 will be added to your invoice in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:316.1. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Assists federal, state, and local agencies in the investigation and prosecution of a wide range of criminal matters.Director: Leon Cannizzaro, Executive Now, making a payment is as easy as visiting our website or picking up the phone and dialing. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' SONRIS (Strategic Online Natural Resources Information System) tool provides data access (e.g., oil and gas information, coastal information), document access (e.g., Office of Conservation oil/gas production cards and field orders, Office of Mineral Resources lease records), GIS access (e.g . Neoprene is a synthetic rubber found in products such as wetsuits and adhesives. 2:01. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. 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. 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. Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 A locked padlock 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. Disaster Fraud Hotline: Report fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, Felon Sentenced to 65 Months for Federal Gun Charge, Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine, Dr. Charles J. Southall, III Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Money Laundering, Obtaining Over $889,000 Through Fraud, New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Carjacking, and Weapons Violations, Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry. 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. They know they can comply, Hampton said. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. An official website of the United States government. DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. On Feb. 28, 2023, the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency filed a lawsuit against the . If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. Chief Deputy Attorney General: Bill Stiles, Communications In 2010, EPA published its peer-reviewed assessment of chloroprene that concluded that chloroprene is likely to be carcinogenic to humans. Approximately 20% of the total population living within two-and-a-half miles of Denka are children under the age of 18, and between about 800-1,000 are children under the age of five. Instagram, Follow us on 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. Lock 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.". In such cases, please allow additional time, up to 6 days, for processing. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Twitter, Follow us on Please use this form to make your Dept of Justice Civil Debt payments only. The date coincides with the date the IRS begins accepting federal income tax returns. 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