WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has announced that it has dropped a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana petrochemical plant. This plant, owned by Denka Performance Elastomer, was accused of increasing cancer risks for residents in a mostly Black neighborhood. Officials believe this decision aligns with President Trump’s goal to reduce what they view as radical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
The two-year-old case was dismissed on Wednesday, emphasizing the administration’s goal to remove ideological biases in enforcing federal laws. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescinded its formal referral of the case, signaling a shift away from using “environmental justice” as a tool for enforcement.
This dismissal affects one of President Biden’s major environmental justice initiatives. Earlier this year, Biden’s EPA had taken legal action against the Denka plant. They claimed the plant posed an unacceptable cancer risk due to high emissions of chloroprene, a chemical dangerous particularly to children’s health. The plant, situated near an elementary school about 30 miles from New Orleans, creates neoprene, a synthetic rubber used in various products from wetsuits to laptop sleeves.
With the federal lawsuit now withdrawn, Denka expresses relief, calling the decision long-overdue. The company argued that the legal challenges they faced lacked scientific backing and drained their resources. Denka maintained that air quality data indicated no significant health risks even at higher emission levels.
However, air monitoring had shown that chloroprene levels near the plant could be as much as 15 times higher than the recommended limits for long-term exposure. The previous EPA under Biden had issued stricter regulations requiring Denka to reduce emissions swiftly, leading the company to claim they were unfairly targeted compared to other manufacturers.
The plant is located in a region commonly known as “Cancer Alley,” which stretches from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. This area is notorious for its high cancer rates, primarily due to the concentration of nearly 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical operations. Remarkably, this industrial corridor produces about 25% of the U.S. petrochemical supply.
The ongoing conversations about environmental justice and regulatory measures reflect the complex balance between industry operations and public health. As these developments unfold, the focus remains on ensuring clean air for communities while considering the implications for businesses in the area.
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Source linkBusiness,Adam Gustafson,Joe Biden,environment,Climate,Donald Trump,Washington news
