Denkas chloroprenes emissions reach more than 300 young children who attend the 5th Ward Elementary School, located within approximately 450 feet of Denkas facility. Unveiled on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges emissions at the Pontchartrain Works facility in Reserve, Louisiana, violate the Clean Air Act and present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare. Administrative Services Coordinates the departments budget, legislative affairs, and department planning and performance. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. The facility is the only site in the US to emit the compound, which is a primary constituent of the synthetic rubber neoprene. Every justice of the peace and constable is required to attend the Justices of the Peace Training course offered by the attorney general at least once every other year. 3 min read. The Department of Justice receives hundreds of legal questionsevery year from state and local authorities, resulting in opinions that carry significant weight in the legal community. ART4: 8 &13 R.S. For paper returns, the refund processing time is up to 14 weeks. Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. On Jan. 23, taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns electronically through Louisiana File Online, the states free web portal for individual tax filers. But air monitors that the EPA set up around the facility continued to pick up concerning levels of the chemical. . Director: Elise Cazes, Civil Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 708049005 (225) 326-6079. 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. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Director: Joe Picone More For returns submitted electronically, taxpayers due refunds can expect them within 45 days of the filing date. Its complicated. Director: Mike Dupree. Lock license and permit liens (for example, driver, fishing and hunting licenses, etc.) Now, making a payment is as easy as visiting our website or picking up the phone and dialing. A locked padlock licenses and permits previously issued to taxpayers that have failed to meet their tax obligations. Official websites use .gov If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. Deena Tumeh, an attorney at the environmental watchdog Earthjustice, said in a statement that the complaint is a long-awaited answer to the communitys repeated calls for immediate action. 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. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. 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. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. In such cases, please allow additional time, up to 6 days, for processing. Moreover, our priorities go beyond prosecuting criminals and litigating cases, as we serve our community through a variety ofoutreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. You must be signed in to submit this form. EPA is taking an unprecedented step deviating from its permitting and rulemaking authorities to allege an emergency based on outdated and erroneous science the agency released over 12 years ago, the statement said. That 2021 test, which was not a formal study, found levels approximately four times above the EPAs recommended maximum annual average chloroprene concentration. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. Sonia Mallett has spent the majority of the last 25 years serving with the Louisiana Department of Justice. outreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. 0:10. YouTube, Follow us on Director: Angelique Freel, Criminal The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently began a cooperative project with all other state agencies that provides for suspension and revocation of Pay.gov requires the use of cookies. The Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Louisiana. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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,, We allege that Denkas emissions have led to unsafe concentrations of carcinogenic chloroprene near homes and schools in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana,, 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,, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. Director: Millard Mul, Gaming Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. 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. The date coincides with the date the IRS begins accepting federal income tax returns. The lawyers and staff in our office work hard every day to defend our national security, improve the safety and quality of life in . A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. They know they can comply, Hampton said. SBA Borrowers: View loan information or make a payment at the new MySBA site. WELCOME to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. St. Charles Parish Waterworks Water Bill Redirecting to account lookup page. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. have been levied for prior non payment. 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. Over the years, Denka has committed to taking steps to reduce the plant's emissions. 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. "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. Once taxpayer obligations are Fairs, Festivals, and Other Special Events, The Importance of Protecting Client Tax Information, 2022 Practitioner Tax Update Seminar Schedule, Louisiana state income tax filing begins Monday, Jan. 23Continue Reading, Louisiana Department of Revenue to re-open Monroe regional officeContinue Reading, Deadline approaching to claim state tax refunds before they move to Unclaimed PropertyContinue Reading, Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications 911 Service Charge, Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Food and Beverage Tax, Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers Agenda, Notice of Public Comment Period Act 685 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers Agenda January 12, 2023, Update The office, closed in 2012 due to state budget cuts, will re-open on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR CRIMINAL PAYMENTS. According to the complaint, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, air monitoring conducted by both the EPA and Denka over the past several years consistently shows long-term chloroprene concentrations in the air near Denkas LaPlace facility that are as high as 14 times the levels recommended for a 70-year lifetime of exposure. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. If you received one of the letters but havent responded yet, simply complete and return the attached voucher to LDR. Note: This system may contain Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) data that requires specific data privacy handling. On Tuesday, Regan said in a statement that the company had not moved far enough or fast enough on those requests. In particular, he expressed concern for the 300 students attending the nearby Fifth Ward Elementary School. Services include: The office is located in the Northeast Louisiana State Office Building at 24 Accent Drive, Suite B500, Monroe, LA 71203. Have a question about Government Services? A lock ( 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. 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. Children under the age of 16 are particularly vulnerable to mutagenic carcinogens like chloroprene. If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. In total, those changes have cost more than $35 million, the company said in its statement. Member Address Seat Information; Landry, Jeffrey M. "Jeff" 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. 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 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 New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. "The unavoidable closure of our . Your dealings with us should be as quick and painless as possible. Mary Hampton, another founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish, said the lawsuit was the culmination of years of advocacy from community members and represented that finally we have a little hope. In the aggregate, the thousands of people breathing this air are incurring a significantly higher cancer risk than would be typically allowed, and they are being exposed to a much greater cancer risk from Denkas air pollution than the majority of United States residents face, the suit states. In a statement Tuesday, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the Justice Department's move followed his pledge to take strong action for communities living near the plant. Unauthorized or improper use of this information system is prohibited and may subject you to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Sign In DuPont remains the owner of the land beneath Denkas facility and acts as a landlord, according to the complaint, meaning DuPont may need to grant permissions in order for emissions to be reduced. According to EPA calculations, emissions from the former DuPont plant, now owned by Denka, present a risk that is especially grave for children. The company has been lobbying the federal government for years, claiming the compounds peer-reviewed classification is based on outdated science. 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. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. 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 . 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 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. WELCOMEto the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 49:251.1, the Department of Justice has provided training for Louisiana's justices of the peace and constables each year since 1972. 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