The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently began a cooperative project with all other state agencies that provides for suspension and revocation of PayStar Payment Portal PayStar Payment Portal 95 Louisiana Attorney General Louisiana Attorney General Educational Other Debt Revenue State Agency Cancel P.O. 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 . The complaint asserts that the LaPlace plants operations present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare due to the cancer risks from Denkas chloroprene emissions. 0:10. According to EPA calculations in the suit, current chloroprene emissions present a risk that is especially grave for infants and children under the age of 16. The Department of Justice is seeking to compel a chemical manufacturing plant to curb its emissions in a region where the estimated cancer risk is among the highest in the United States. The information you will enter will remain private. Jan. 27, 202206:15. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. Japanese company Denka, along with US chemicals giant DuPont, have operated the plant that produces cancer-causing chloroprene. Instagram, Follow us on Here's How, 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, Regan said. State of Louisiana Department of Justice c/o Constituent Services P. O. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. Employers / Post Job. A lock ( U.S. Government information systems are provided for the processing of official U.S. Government information only. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise. Assists federal, state, and local agencies in the investigation and prosecution of a wide range of criminal matters.Director: Leon Cannizzaro, Executive Denka said in a statement that it has reduced emissions by about 85% since it took over the plant in 2015. Director: Mike Dupree. Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Provides follow-up investigation services for the Criminal Division; responds to requests for investigative assistance from government agencies, including the apprehension of fugitives; and provides investigative services in cyber crimes, white collar crimes, and public corruption. The company has not moved far enough or fast enough to reduce emissions or ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Provides legal services to the statein the areas of consumer protection and environmental law, insurance receivership, and fair housing. WASHINGTON 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. A locked padlock Director: Angelique Freel, Criminal Official websites use .gov document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. DuPont still owns the land beneath Denkas facility so is also named in the DOJ complaint. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (800) 423-2129 Terms of Use / Privacy Policy Powered By (888) 617-1811 | help@paystar.co PayStar Terms of Use 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. Official websites use .gov "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. to LDR on weekends or holidays, your payment will be processed on the following business day. The company has been lobbying the federal government for years, claiming the compounds peer-reviewed classification is based on outdated science. Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. 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. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In the event that your payment takes over 6 days to post to your LDR account, please feel free to call our taxpayer services department for additional Sure, some folks love to use the mail. 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. Director: Millard Mul, Gaming On Tuesday, residents and advocates celebrated the news, describing it as justice long overdue. These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. The company added that it "remains committed to identifying and implementing additional emission reductions where possible.". Any refund not claimed by the deadline remains the property of the taxpayer, and can be retrieved from the Unclaimed Property Division. Denka Performance Elastomer, a synthetic rubber manufacturing plant owned by a Japanese company of the same name, is located half a mile from an elementary school in St. John the Baptist Parish, where the air is laced with toxic chemicals emitted by dozens of different industrial facilities and more than 60 percent of residents are Black. For ACH transactions, a state charge of $2.00 will be added to your invoice in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:316.1. Taxpayers using credits cards to pay outstanding balances due the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) must plan for additional transaction time if WELCOME to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. Executive Department: Louisiana Public Defender Board: Darrilyn Favorite: Karen Smith: 124: 01-124: Executive Department: Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District: Darrilyn Favorite: Karen Smith: 129: 01-129: Executive Department: Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement & Administration of Criminal Justice: Emily VanNatta: Karen Smith: 130: 03 . payment processing to be completed within 3 or 4 business days of the transaction. The EPA knew about the threat Denka posed to residents of Reserve and Laplace as early as 2015. If you received one of the letters but havent responded yet, simply complete and return the attached voucher to LDR. Serves as the principal liaison between the Attorney General's Office, the media, and the public. Provides follow-up investigation services for the Criminal Division; responds to requests for investigative assistance from government agencies, including the apprehension of fugitives; and provides investigative services in cyber crimes, white collar crimes, and public corruption. Sonia Mallett has spent the majority of the last 25 years serving with the Louisiana Department of Justice. 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. Justice.gov; News; They know they can comply, Hampton said. 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. The Louisiana Department of Treasury is responsible for overseeing state investments and monitoring the state's cash flow. Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. Denkas chloroprenes emissions reach more than 300 young children who attend the 5th Ward Elementary School, located within approximately 450 feet of Denkas facility. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. After the visit, Regan sent a letter to Denka urging executives to take steps to reduce the threat to those living in the surrounding towns of Laplace and Reserve. WASHINGTON Federal officials sued a Louisiana chemical maker on Tuesday, alleging that it presents an unacceptable cancer risk to the nearby majority-Black community and demanding . The facility is the only site in the US to emit the compound, which is a primary constituent of the synthetic rubber neoprene. The Louisiana Department of Revenue recently began a cooperative project with all other state agencies that provides for suspension and revocation of licenses and permits previously issued to taxpayers that have failed to meet their tax obligations. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. DuPont sold the plant to Denka in 2015 in a secretive deal, which the Guardian later revealed was motivated by concerns from DuPont that it would face heavier regulation after the EPAs decision to classify chloroprene as a likely human carcinogen. The plant is one of many that activists argue puts undue health risks on Black communities in the area. An official website of the United States government. Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. Now, making a payment is as easy as visiting our website or picking up the phone and dialing. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. This action is not the first step we have taken to reduce risks to the people living in Saint John the Baptist Parish, and it will not be the last., We allege that Denkas emissions have led to unsafe concentrations of carcinogenic chloroprene near homes and schools in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. Please click here to see any active alerts. If you have any questions regarding TEFRAs, Contracts, or Resolutions - you may contact Michelle Boutte at bouttem@ag.louisiana.gov or Monica Reed at reedm@ag.louisiana.gov. Director: Joe Picone, Litigation 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. Member Address Seat Information; Landry, Jeffrey M. "Jeff" 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. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. And for the administration to come in and do this, it just validates our efforts.. Denka Performance Elastomers manufactures neoprene at its chemical plant in Reserve, La. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. That year, the agency published data indicating that the risk of developing cancer from air pollution in the census tract closest to Denka was nearly 50 times the national average, a result of the plants chloroprene emissions. It was part of the Biden administrations effort to spotlight concerns of environmental justice, a term that refers to the disproportionate pollution borne by so many low income communities of color across the country. The EPAidentifiedchloroprene as a likely human carcinogen in 2010. 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. YouTube, Follow us on To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Facebook, Follow us on Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. Should funds be transmitted by these vendors Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. Pursuant to LA R.S. 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. According to EPA calculations, emissions from the former DuPont plant, now owned by Denka, present a risk that is especially grave for children. Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, Office of Community Development - Local Government Assistance, Louisiana Federal Property Assistance Agency, Proof of Insurance for State Vehicles (FY2022-23), Office of Statewide Reporting and Accounting Policy, Early Childhood System Integrated Budgets, State Deputy Director of Planning & Budget, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, Governors Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement & Administration of Criminal Justice, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Department of Transportation & Development, Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Office on Womens Health and Community Health, Department of Children And Family Services, Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority, Public Safety & Corrections Corrections Services, Public Safety & Corrections Youth Services, Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, Public Safety & Corrections Public Safety, Office of Coastal Restoration & Management, Local Housing of State Juvenile Offenders, Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors, LSU Medical Center Health Care Services Division, Southern University Board of Supervisors, University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, LA Community & Tech College Board of Supervisors, Louisiana School for Math, Science, & the Arts (LSMSA), Louisiana Education Television Authority (LETA), State Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), State Sales Tax Dedications to Local Entities, District Attorneys / Assistant District Attorneys, Highway Fund Number Two Motor Vehicle Tax, Unclaimed Property Leverage Funds Debt Services, Governors Conference and Interstate Compacts, Agriculture and Forestry Pass Through Funds, Supplemental Pay to Law Enforcement Personnel. Even when Denka's facility was shut down for a month in September 2021 after Hurricane Ida, a small monitoring demonstration test by the Louisiana State University School of Public Health revealed detectable levels of chloroprene in two out of 10 air samples, according to the researchers. 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. transactions of this sort, is completed through third part vendors (Official Payments Corp. and Payment Tech, Inc.). Director: Chris Hebert, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment. USE OF THIS SYSTEM BY ANY USER, AUTHORIZED OR UNAUTHORIZED, CONSTITUTES YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CONSENT TO THIS MONITORING, INTERCEPTION, RECORDING, READING, COPYING, OR CAPTURING AND DISCLOSURE. 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. This action is not the first step we have taken to reduce risks to the people living in St John the Baptist Parish, and it will not be the last.. If you have any questions call the DOJ Consolidated Debt Collection System (CDCS) Help Desk at 1-800-683-6567. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Because we remain committed to customer service, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is pleased to accept your tax payments via credit card. Unauthorized or improper use of this information system is prohibited and may subject you to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties. Email: ConstituentServices@ag.louisiana.gov. for more information. 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. If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange. Denka's facility is along a stretch of the Mississippi River that activists and residents have nicknamed "Cancer Alley" because of the unusually high cancer risk among communities there and the emissions that come from the numerous plants in the area. In such cases, please allow additional time, up to 6 days, for processing. Please enable cookies before continuing. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. IE 11 is not supported. On Feb. 28, 2023, the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency filed a lawsuit against the . 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. 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 Louisiana Department of Revenue provides for secured payment of returns through use of credit card vendors. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions. For those folks who prefer to take advantage of current technology, this is a quick, convenient, and secure assistance. The department will issue paper checks to all taxpayers submitting completed vouchers by the Oct. 6 deadline. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. She also served as Executive Counsel to Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and practiced law with a Baton Rouge firm. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Director: Joe Picone More Louisiana Department of Justice 176 followers 3w Today, Dennis Perkins admitted to his despicable crimes and pled guilty in court. LaPlace is in the majority-Black St. John the Baptist Parish,about 30 miles outside of New Orleans. DPE is in compliance with its air permits and applicable law. In November 2021, EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited people living near the facility during his Journey to Justice tour, a survey of polluted communities across the south. 2021 Recap Video. As part of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Grist moved its office headquarters to the Bullitt Center in Seattles vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. WELCOMEto the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Eastern District of Louisiana

Budweiser Rooftop At Sloan Park, Manhasset Bay Yacht Club Membership Cost, Articles L