LAPLACE, La. — Governor Jeff Landry and his administration announced Monday that they are stepping in to help Denka Performance Elastomer after the United States Environmental Protection Agency denied its request for an extension to reduce its emissions.
It all stems from a new EPA rule requiring Denka to lower its emissions by October 15th. Denka officials say this requirement is impossible to meet and would force a shutdown.
“We need industry, but we don’t need harmful industry,” said neighbor David Sanders.
David Sanders, a long-time resident of Reserve, says before the Denka/Dupont plant, things were different.
“My people used to come from New Orleans to visit the country. It was so beautiful for them to come out for the fresh air and everything,” he said. “We used to have 4th of July picnics and stuff out here; we can’t have all that now; you’d be itching. That stuff would have you itching.”
Sanders believes emissions from the plant have changed the environment and pose a threat to public health.
“The air is foul most of the time and me myself personally I have had two lung surgeries already,” said Sanders.
Monday, Denka officials told WWL Louisiana that the plant does not pose a public health threat and has been working to reduce emissions for the past decade.
“Since DPE purchased the facility in 2015, we have invested 35 million dollars in voluntary emission controls,” said Denka's executive officer and plant manager, Michelle Helfrich.
On Monday, Louisiana Department of Environmental Equality Secretary Aurelia Giacometto announced that the agency would give the plant the two-year extension it needs to meet the EPA’s requirement.
“All it does is give Denka more time to comply with the rule unless we are successful, or Denka is successful in our challenge to the rule,” said State Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Governor Landry’s support of Denka got the attention of Congressman Troy Carter, who says he supports the EPA’s commitment to reducing emissions.
“Louisianians deserve to breathe clean air and drink clean water without fear for their health,” said Rep. Carter. “My district has the highest cancer risk of any place in the United States – that is unacceptable. We must pursue proper regulations. We must listen to the people who are impacted at home, who undoubtedly have suffered the cost of being near petrochemical plants — but not just chemical plants, chemical plants that don’t follow the rules. I am not anti-industry; I am anti-violator. When people and communities come first, we can achieve coexistence.”
It’s unclear if the EPA’s new rule, which officially goes into effect on July 15th, will supersede the state’s power to give DPE an extension.
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