A synthetic rubber manufacturer in Louisiana, Denka Performance Elastomer, is facing backlash for allegedly increasing the cancer risk for the nearby majority-Black community. The company stated that it may have to shut down permanently if it is forced to comply with the environmental regulations set by the Biden administration, specifically targeting emissions at industrial plants. The Denka plant, located near an elementary school in Reserve, Louisiana, manufactures neoprene, a material used in various products, and employs around 250 people.
The fight over environmental rules, racism, and pollution impacts has brought Denka Performance Elastomer to the forefront. The Biden administration’s promise to prioritize the well-being of communities, especially those that are poor and majority-minority, affected by pollution has led to stricter regulations. The company has been given a 90-day deadline to reduce emissions, which it claims is unfair and politically motivated. If Denka fails to comply, it may have no choice but to permanently shut down the facility.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sued Denka last year, citing the facility’s endangerment to the community and justifying the shorter 90-day deadline for compliance. Environmental activists and residents in the area have long been fighting against the plant’s operations, citing health concerns caused by emissions, particularly chloroprene. The new regulations aim to reduce cancer risks significantly, but Denka argues that the risk has been overstated and that they have already made substantial emission reductions in recent years.
The company is seeking relief from the 90-day deadline and wants the EPA to reconsider and possibly extend the timeline. Despite their efforts to reduce emissions and engage in discussions with the agency, Denka has not been able to reach an agreement with federal officials. The lawsuit brought by the EPA to address the cancer risk posed by Denka’s operations has been put on hold pending the issuance of new emissions rules for industrial facilities. The company claims that it will need at least two years to implement the required controls under the new rules.
State regulators in Louisiana have faced criticism for allowing new facilities in areas already burdened by pollution, primarily affecting Black residents. The EPA’s dropped investigation into racial discrimination allegations disappointed activists who hoped for change. Denka is now pleading its case in a federal appeals court, emphasizing the potential irreparable harm of shutting down the facility due to the stringent deadlines imposed by the EPA. The company’s future operations and the well-being of the surrounding community hang in the balance as legal battles continue over environmental regulation enforcement.
