US EditionSt. John the Baptist Parish Denka location to suspend operations citing several factors
- Denka halted production at its neoprene manufacturing facility located in the Louisiana parish of St. John the Baptist on Tuesday due to financial challenges and operational difficulties.
- The suspension stems from high costs to comply with EPA pollution controls, weakened neoprene demand, inflation, and staffing shortages despite regulatory uncertainty.
- The facility, the sole U.S. Neoprene producer, has long been controversial for chloroprene emissions near a majority Black community, leading to environmental justice debates.
- Denka reported a $109 million loss last fiscal year and stated it spent over $35 million reducing emissions by 85%, while supporters cited the plant's economic importance including 250 jobs.
- The company explores options including sale, with no permanent closure or layoffs decided, while community activists urge strong pollution remediation and just transition support.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Chemical plant in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley halts operations amid financial losses and regulatory pressure
A chemical plant in Louisiana long criticized for endangering nearby residents with toxic air pollution has suspended production indefinitely following major financial setbacks and regulatory challenges.Oliver Laughland reports for The Guardian.In short:Denka Performance Elastomer has paused all operations at its neoprene-producing facility in St. John Parish, citing $109 million in losses, dwindling demand, and stricter environmental regulation…
Associated Press News
Louisiana plant at the center of an environmental justice fight halts operations
A petrochemical plant in Louisiana accused of increasing cancer risks for a majority Black community has indefinitely suspended its operations in part due to the high cost of reducing toxic pollution.
St. John the Baptist Parish Denka location to suspend operations citing several factors
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Officials with the Denka Plant in St. John the Baptist Parish have decided to suspend operations, citing an "extraordinary loss" in its financial results for the recent fiscal year. Denka Performance Elastomer LLC has been at the center of controversy for several years, as it is located in what is called "Cancer Alley." Its production resulted in the closing down of Fifth Ward Elementary, a school locate…
The Advocate
NolaDenka's controversial Louisiana plant suspends production, says future operations unclear
The plant has been a flashpoint in the debate over environmental justice in an area of Louisiana activists have labeled "Cancer Alley." Gov. Jeff Landry has defended the facility.
LaPlace Denka rubber plant suspending production due to 'extraordinary losses'
LAPLACE - The Denka chloroprene rubber production plant in LaPlace suspended operations due to "extraordinary losses," according to a press release from the company.The release cites pollution reduction measures and unscheduled plant outages, saying the Japanese company lost approximately "16.1 billion yen."The plant received criticism for their chloroprene emissions, which the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Prot…
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