JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — The Jefferson Parish Council voted to approve new rules for hazardous chemical plants operating in the parish. For years, WWL Louisiana has reported on residents' complaints of foul smells and concerns about toxins being released into the air.
Though these plants are regulated by the Federal government, local ordinances haven't changed since the 1950s.
Councilman Deano Bonano has been working on this for the last two years. Until Tuesday night, he said he was talking with stakeholders to reach a compromise. It appears they did it, with just one person speaking out against this ordnance at the meeting.
The new rules for chemical plants would require new facilities or expansions on existing sites to create odor control monitors, make air quality testing reports public if the government requires them to test the air, and require new builds to be a certain distance from homes.
An amendment was added extending the required distance from 1500 feet to 2000 feet, which is similar to restrictions we've seen for chemical companies in St. James and St. Charles Parish.
Bonano said this new ordinance will not impact any companies currently operating in the parish.
Some people said they were still concerned about that buffer zone extending to the Eastbank. Some residents expressed concerns that the smells and noises from the plants are still an issue for them in areas like River Ridge.
The support for the ordnance with amendments was unanimous.
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