this post was submitted on 30 May 2024
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229
Louisiana chemical plant threatens to shut down if EPA emissions deadline isn't relaxed (apnews.com)
submitted 5 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
25 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A synthetic rubber manufacturer accused of increasing the cancer risk for the nearby majority-Black community in Louisiana told a federal appeals court it will have to shut down “likely permanently” if it’s forced to meet the Biden administration’s deadline to reduce emissions.

Denka Performance Elastomer on Tuesday blamed a new Environmental Protection Agency rule that targets emissions at more than 200 industrial plants, arguing that other, more dangerous facilities face a 2-year deadline to comply while it was singled out with an “illegal and politically motivated” 90-day deadline.

The Denka plant manufacturers neoprene, which is used to make wetsuits, automotive belts and other items, and employs roughly 250 people, the company said. It’s located roughly a half-mile (.8 kilometer) from an elementary school in Reserve, Louisiana, and is within an 85-mile (137-kilometer) stretch of the state known officially as the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor. Colloquially it is called Cancer Alley.

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[–] athos77@kbin.social 113 points 5 months ago (2 children)

When the agency originally proposed tougher emissions limits, Denka had a longer timeframe to comply. But the EPA sued the company last year, finding the facility posed an “imminent and substantial endangerment” to the nearby community. [...] The company wants the EPA’s 90-day deadline put on hold and says the agency won’t consider lengthening that timeline until Denka sets out an emissions reduction plan, according to the filing.“ [...] (Denka) will need at least two years to plan, develop, test and install the controls required by the rule,” the company said in a court filing.

The EPA has been working on this rule since Biden took office. You knew it was coming, you just hoped there would be a change of administration before you had to comply with the ruling (so you wouldn't have to comply at all, which is also what you're hoping for with your current delay tactics). Sucks to be you - your lack of planning does not constitute my emergency, etc ....

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 58 points 5 months ago

Yup. Not only that, years earlier they were under investigation by the doj for their chloroprene emissions.

Denka's arguments here are ridiculous. They are trying to play like chloroprene isn't horribly toxic. It's a human pesticide. No emissions are safe, and that means they can't run their 60 year old cancer factory without rebuilding. Booo hooo.

[–] bluGill@kbin.social 7 points 5 months ago

They had all of Bidens presidency. They should have a plan in place already. If they can show the court the plan is reasonable and they have been working on it for a while and are making progress then fine I'll wait. But they need to show they were seriously trying.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 75 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Good?

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 30 points 5 months ago

Chemical plant failed successfully.

[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 55 points 5 months ago

Won't someone think of the criminals? /s

[–] Lexam@lemmy.ca 52 points 5 months ago

This is a company trying to use it's employees as hostages.

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 34 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Wouldn't the EPA shut them down anyway at the deadline? Thats what the EPA would do right? They would follow through with their regulations right?

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 8 points 5 months ago

sensible chuckle while shaking head

[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 30 points 5 months ago

I think that is the idea right?

[–] HeckGazer@programming.dev 28 points 5 months ago

[–] JCreazy@midwest.social 25 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It says a lot when their defense it "other companies are allowed to be shitty, why can't I?" The government shouldn't have to tell you how to run your business but here we are, too many businesses that won't take responsibilities for their operations so now they are regulated. Guess what assholes , the government wouldn't have you do this if your company was operating ethically to begin with.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

It's the Donald Trump Strategy. It's not a crime if everyone is doing it.

[–] notabot@lemm.ee 24 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hmm, now where's that 'oh no...anyway' meme gone?

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago

Or the Willy Wonka "No, stop, don't." one. If only corporations could get broken up into tiny pieces with cameras.

[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 20 points 5 months ago

Sounds like the deadline is working. If their situation is so badly fucked, they should shut down.

[–] AshMan85@lemmy.world 20 points 5 months ago

Time to break up monopolies before they cause the next great depression

[–] Rognaut@lemmy.world 19 points 5 months ago

Ok, bye.

Good riddance.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I love how companies get light little slaps on the wrist and, allowed to simply pay tiny fines, and maybe possibly correct the problem they created and ignored perhaps if they can eventually be bothered to get around to it, but if a person committed the crimes corporations are responsible for, they'd be in prison or executed, no question.

[–] dust_accelerator@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 5 months ago

Okay, good that's on record now, a clear statement of intent. So we can record current assets and responsibilities for when they close and fail to properly decommission the plant, the assets can be clawed back, right?

...right?

[–] ares35@kbin.social 10 points 5 months ago

they ain't gonna shut it down.. not before some shenanigans involving new corporate entities, loads of debt, and a bankruptcy that ends up with the feds (taxpayers) with the clean-up bill.

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Don't threaten me with a good time.

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world -2 points 5 months ago

Ok