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. Instagram, Follow us on 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 . Member Address Seat Information; Landry, Jeffrey M. "Jeff" The Justice Departments environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water. 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. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. 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. The EPA knew about the threat Denka posed to residents of Reserve and Laplace as early as 2015. Sign up hereinstead Legal Opinions Consumer Information Its been a long time coming. Donate today to keep our climate news free. DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR CRIMINAL PAYMENTS. Director: Mike Dupree. Administrative Services Coordinates the departments budget, legislative affairs, and department planning and performance. 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. SBA Borrowers: View loan information or make a payment at the new MySBA site. LaPlace is in the majority-Black St. John the Baptist Parish,about 30 miles outside of New Orleans. WASHINGTON Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presents an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding . 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. 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. The lawyers and staff in our office work hard every day to defend our national security, improve the safety and quality of life in . transactions of this sort, is completed through third part vendors (Official Payments Corp. and Payment Tech, Inc.). outreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. payment processing to be completed within 3 or 4 business days of the transaction. Should you choose this option, you can expect Provides legal representation to the State, its agencies, and its employees in all tort claims seeking damages and defends claims managed by the ORM or any post-secondary education institution granted an exemption from the States risk management program. are NOT included in the balance due to LDR. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The department will issue paper checks to all taxpayers submitting completed vouchers by the Oct. 6 deadline. Please enable cookies before continuing. These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. A lock ( Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. Any refund not claimed by the deadline remains the property of the taxpayer, and can be retrieved from the Unclaimed Property Division. 650 Poydras Street, Suite 1600 They know they can comply, Hampton said. Instagram, Follow us on Official websites use .gov Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. WELCOME to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. 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. The plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. Denka Performance Elastomer LLC makes synthetic rubber, emitting the carcinogen chloroprene, in such high . If you received one of the letters but havent responded yet, simply complete and return the attached voucher to LDR. And for the administration to come in and do this, it just validates our efforts.. Sonia Mallett has spent the majority of the last 25 years serving with the Louisiana Department of Justice. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. Follow us on An official website of the United States government. The complaint asserts that the LaPlace plants operations present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare due to the cancer risks from Denkas chloroprene emissions. In its complaint filed on Tuesday, the Justice Department also named Dupont as a party responsible for ensuring that the plant reduces its emissions of chloroprene, which has been linked to numerous cancers and diseases of the nervous, immune, and respiratory systems. St. Charles Parish Waterworks Water Bill Redirecting to account lookup page. You must be signed in to submit this form. Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. Justice.gov; News; Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (800) 423-2129 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy Powered By (888) 617-1811 | help@paystar.co A lock ( 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. Serves as legal advisor and legal representative to all Louisiana gaming regulatory agencies. The company added that it "remains committed to identifying and implementing additional emission reductions where possible.". 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. Kindly keep in mind that although your credit card transaction will post to your credit card statement upon payment, this processing, like other electronic assistance. Its complicated. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. A locked padlock licenses and permits previously issued to taxpayers that have failed to meet their tax obligations. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. 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A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise.. A statement issued by Denka on Tuesday said the company strongly disagrees with the legal action and urged the EPA to re-evaluate its findings on chloroprene exposure. In a statement, associate attorney general Vanita Gupta said: The justice departments environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water. YouTube. The information you will enter will remain private. EPA air monitoring around the facility has consistently shown readings well in excess of the recommended lifetime exposure limit of 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter. The lawyers and staff in our office work hard every day to defend our national security, improve the safety and quality of life in all our communities through enforcement of federal laws, and protect the public funds of the United States. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. 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. We noticed your internet browser is not supported. 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. Sign In 2:01. . Once taxpayer obligations are Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at collectionsinfo@ag.louisiana.gov or by phone at 225-326-6550 or 1-800-423-2129. Today, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act against Denka Performance Elastomer LLC (Denka) to compel Denka to significantly reduce hazardous chloroprene emissions from its neoprene manufacturing facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. Create an Account THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Facebook, Follow us on 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. According to EPA calculations, emissions from the former DuPont plant, now owned by Denka, present a risk that is especially grave for children. Please click here to see any active alerts. But the estimated pollution-related cancer risk in the area is still one of the highest in the country, according to the EPA. 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. 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. Because we remain committed to customer service, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is pleased to accept your tax payments via credit card. Hampton urged both Denka and DuPont to comply with the federal governments demands set forth in the lawsuit. ; otherwise, Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise, Regan said. For returns submitted electronically, taxpayers due refunds can expect them within 45 days of the filing date. The revelations were part of a years-long Guardian series examining air pollution in Reserve and throughout Cancer Alley. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. The Civil Division issues written legal opinions to the governor, the state auditor, the state treasurer, state boards, agencies and commissions, the district attorneys of the state, and parish and municipal governing authorities. Please update your browser to ensure your payment is secure. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (800) 423-2129 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy Powered By (888) 617-1811 | help@paystar.co PayStar Terms of Use The office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Lock 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. The air samples were taken at or across the street from a nearby elementary school. Pay.gov requires the use of cookies. 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 Japanese company Denka, along with US chemicals giant DuPont, have operated the plant that produces cancer-causing chloroprene. 49:251.1, the Department of Justice has provided training for Louisiana's justices of the peace and constables each year since 1972. Director: Sonia Mallett, Public Protection 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. YouTube, Follow us on The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. 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. 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. Separately, the two groups sued the EPA for missing a deadline to update its regulations for neoprene manufacturing plants. A locked padlock 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. Louisiana File Online allows taxpayers to: Taxpayers may also submit their returns using commercially available tax preparation software, or with printed state returns available at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/Forms. 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. Provides legal representation to the state, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. Here's How, 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, Regan said. Now, making a payment is as easy as visiting our website or picking up the phone and dialing. Email: ConstituentServices@ag.louisiana.gov. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Over the years, Denka has committed to taking steps to reduce the plant's emissions. The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently began a cooperative project with all other state agencies that provides for suspension and revocation of Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. Director: Angelique Freel, Criminal Your dealings with us should be as quick and painless as possible. Eastern District of Louisiana Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. Director: Elise Cazes, Civil The Fifth Ward elementary school and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka plant, back left, in Reserve, Louisiana. license and permit liens (for example, driver, fishing and hunting licenses, etc.) Chloroprene is a liquid raw material used to produce neoprene and is emitted into the air from various areas at the facility. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. 3 min read. 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. 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 He not only waived any right to appeal, probation, or parole. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. For those folks who prefer to take advantage of current technology, this is a quick, convenient, and secure That 2021 test, which was not a formal study, found levels approximately four times above the EPAs recommended maximum annual average chloroprene concentration. The Justice Department's 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 . 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 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. Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. 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.