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The division also initiates litigation to enforce various state laws, including, for example, the master settlement agreement against the nations largest tobacco manufacturers. method of making certain that your payments are received and posted correctly and on-time. 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.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. If you received one of the letters but havent responded yet, simply complete and return the attached voucher to LDR. Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. The office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. 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. 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. Heres why a California beach town just banned balloons, This is absurd: Train cars that derailed in Ohio were labeled non-hazardous, Why North Dakota is preparing to sue Minnesota over clean energy, Study: Extreme heat is driving deaths in US prisons, In a growing petrochemical hub, the East Palestine derailment triggers an uneasy feeling, One year in, the toxic legacy of war in Ukraine comes into view. 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. The complaint, first reported by NBC News, was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District . 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. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. license and permit liens (for example, driver, fishing and hunting licenses, etc.) "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. 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. 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. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In total, those changes have cost more than $35 million, the company said in its statement. 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. Contact: dcfs.louisiana.gov 627 N. Fourth St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.524.3578 About the Agency. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise, Regan said. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Pursuant to LA R.S. ART4: 8 &13 R.S. System personnel may give to law enforcement officials any potential evidence of crime found on U.S. Government information systems. 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. Director: Elise Cazes, Civil Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. 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 states natural resources, lands and water bottoms. 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. U.S. District Courts Eastern District of Louisiana Middle District of Louisiana Western District of Louisiana U.S. Bankruptcy Courts Eastern District of Louisiana Middle District of Louisiana Western District of Louisiana State and Local Courts State Judiciary Judiciary - Links to Louisiana Courts Supreme Court Denka Performance Elastomer LLC makes synthetic rubber, emitting the carcinogen chloroprene, in such high . 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. But the estimated pollution-related cancer risk in the area is still one of the highest in the country, according to the EPA. The revelations were part of a years-long Guardian series examining air pollution in Reserve and throughout Cancer Alley. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 1-877-297-0995 constituentservices@ag.louisiana.gov MENU Home About Divisions News Resources Collections Contact Search Protecting Innocence This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Chloroprene is a liquid raw material used to produce neoprene and is emitted into the air from various areas at the facility. That 2021 test, which was not a formal study, found levels approximately four times above the EPAs recommended maximum annual average chloroprene concentration. St. Charles Parish Waterworks Water Bill Redirecting to account lookup page. YouTube, Follow us on She also served as Executive Counsel to Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and practiced law with a Baton Rouge firm. The information you will enter will remain private. 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. The US justice department has sued the two petrochemical giants behind a facility in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" responsible for the highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the . If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. The EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights in part blames state agencies; In an October letter, it wrote that the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Health's failure to pursue stronger action against Denka disproportionately exposed Black residents to harmful air pollutants. The US justice department has sued the two petrochemical giants behind a facility in Louisianas Cancer Alley responsible for the highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the US in a major federal lawsuit that seeks to substantially curb the plants emissions. Provides legal services to the statein the areas of consumer protection and environmental law, insurance receivership, and fair housing. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. The agency is now under a court order to get it done. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. 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. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. But on-site inspections by the EPA in April and May 2022 found that Denkawas not meeting regulatory requirements for the storage and disposal of chloroprene waste, which contributes to emissions of chloroprene from the plant. For paper returns, the refund processing time is up to 14 weeks. Because we remain committed to customer service, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is pleased to accept your tax payments via credit card. assistance. met, within 72 hours, LDR will notify and authorize the issuing state agencies to remove such liens. 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. 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.. 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. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 708049005 (225) 326-6079. Create an Account 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. "EPAs allegation directly contradicts the agencys own prior statements, credible data on health in St. John the Baptist Parish and the best available science on the chemical chloroprene," the statement said. 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. DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR CRIMINAL PAYMENTS. The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently began a cooperative project with all other state agencies that provides for suspension and revocation of The plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. The air samples were taken at or across the street from a nearby elementary school. 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 Can you tell if a bomb train is coming to your town? Lock The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services works to keep children safe, helps individuals and families become self-sufficient and operates shelters during disasters. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department by phone at 1-833-492-0097, or by email at community.louisianadoc@usdoj.gov. On Tuesday, residents and advocates celebrated the news, describing it as justice long overdue. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. . Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presented an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding cuts in toxic emissions. An official website of the United States government. WELCOMEto the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Over the years, Denka has committed to taking steps to reduce the plant's emissions. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. 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. You must be signed in to submit this form. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. 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. Justice.gov; News; A lock ( The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Kindly keep in mind that although your credit card transaction will post to your credit card statement upon payment, this processing, like other electronic We need action now for our children and want this to be put in place immediately.. Please update your browser to ensure your payment is secure. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber found in products such as wetsuits and adhesives. A lock ( 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 payment processing to be completed within 3 or 4 business days of the transaction. 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. "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.". 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. Have a question about Government Services? Denka said in a statement that it has reduced emissions by about 85% since it took over the plant in 2015. 2:01. Director: Millard Mul, Gaming Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request, File returns and pay taxes electronically, Check the status of individual income tax refunds, Submitting completed state individual income tax returns and making payments (staff cannot assist with the completion of tax returns), ATC/Video Poker/Lottery/Drivers License/Wildlife & Fisheries tax clearances, Resolving bank levies and wage garnishments. 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