Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Polluting Louisiana to make disposable plastics



"Polluting Louisiana's air to make disposable plastics we don’t need is a terrible idea.”



"Remember the mantra "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle"? There's a reason recycling is third in that list—reducing and reusing are far more important. You don't have to recycle the plastic bag you don't use."   Paul Rauber   https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2019-4-july-august/editor/youre-recycling-wrong


Louisiana to Hold Hearing on Massive Formosa Plastics Toxic Chemical Complex
ST. JAMES PARISH, La.— Louisiana [Department of Environmental Quality] will hold a public hearing on issuing 15 air permits for Taiwanese company Formosa Plastics. The massive proposed complex would be one of the largest and most toxic plastic production facilities in the world.

On Tuesday, July 9, at 6 p.m., the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will hear public comments on the Formosa chemical complex, a proposed project that would create 14 new chemical plants in a largely African-American community. The hearing will be held at the Westbank Reception Area, 2455 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana. A short press conference will be held at 5:30 p.m., prior to the hearing

Formosa will be gifted $12 million in a cash grant from the state of Louisiana and another $1.5 billion in tax breaks for its new plastics complex through the controversial Industrial Tax Exemption Permit. But with plastic products being banned in Europe and municipalities across the U.S., the demand for Formosa’s output is likely to decline over time. Additionally, the value of neighboring homes that residents have invested in for generations will be wiped out, never to be recovered.

“Formosa’s project would emit 13 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, the same as three coal-fired power plants."

The Formosa complex would emit the second-highest amount of ethylene oxide and the second-highest amount of benzene of any plant in a state already full of large-scale industrial development. Both ethylene oxide and benzene are known human carcinogens and cause numerous other chronic health problems.


Public Hearing Tuesday July 9 2019

Comment Deadline 4:30pm Monday August 12 2019
All correspondence should specify AI Number 198351; Permit Numbers: 3141-V0, 3142-V0, 3143-V0, 3144-V0, 3145-V0, 3146-V0, 3147-V0, 3148-V0, 3149-V0, 3150-V0, 3151-V0, 3152-V0, 3153-V0, 3154-V0, and PSD-LA-812; and Activity Numbers PER20150001 through PER20150015

Comments and request for a public hearing or notification nof the final decision can be submitted via personal delivery, U.S. mail, email, or fax. Comments and requests for public hearing must be received by 4:30pm CST, Monday, August 12, 2019 

Delivery may be made to the drop-box at 602 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802, U.S. Mail may be sent to LDEQ, Public Participation Group, P. O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4314. Emails may be submitted to DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA.GOV and faxes sent to (225)219-3309. Persons wishing to receive notice of the final permit action must include a complete mailing address when submitting comments. 

Inquiries or request for additional information regarding this permit action should be directed to Anthony Randall, LDEQ, Air Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225)219-3494

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