New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter commends the Environmental Protection Agency for implementing a final rule aimed at reducing cancer causing air pollution released by 51 plants and refineries in Louisiana. The rule significantly reduces the amount of chloroprene, ethylene oxide among others. Carter says this is a step towards environmental justice.
“This is only for violators. This is only for people who are not doing the right thing. This is saying you have to modify your processes to make sure you’re reducing these toxic air pollutants.”
EPA says the rule will reduce both EtO and cholorprene emissions by nearly 80 percent and reduce nearby cancer rates by 96 percent. Carter says many of these plants are located near low-income communities with people who suffer with elevated health risks. The rule slashes more than six thousand tons of toxic air pollution by requiring facilities to conduct fenceline monitoring and lowering emissions.
“Now requiring fenceline testing essentially says that if it’s outside the fence it’s way too far. And the truth of the matter is we don’t even want it on inside the fence because we want people who work for the plants to be safe.”
The EPA action targets Denka Performance Elastomers facility in LaPlace which is the largest source of toxics emissions in the U-S. Carter says this rule addresses public health risks in local communities and protects future generations.
“Everything is towards reducing the instances of cancer. That dreaded “C” word that knows no race. Knows no party. Knows no boundaries. Knows no economic or socio standards. It equally causes havoc in families.”
Denka plans to challenge the rule in court. The Louisiana Chemical Association argues that EPA used flawed information in determining this latest ruling. The LCA plans to meet with it’s members to decide who to respond to this new EPA regulation.
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