DOJ files complaint against manufacturer for releasing carcinogenic emissions

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a complaint against Denka Performance Elastomer LLC for violating Section 303 of the Clean Air Act. The DOJ alleges that chloroprene emissions from the company’s LaPlace, Louisiana, manufacturing plant pose a danger to the health and wellness of the public since the emissions can increase a person’s risk of cancer. In the complaint, the DOJ claims that chloroprene concentrations in the air near the facility are 15 times the levels recommended for a 70-year lifetime of exposure.

In a recent quote, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said, “We allege that Denka’s emissions have led to unsafe concentrations of carcinogenic chloroprene near homes and schools in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. The Justice Department’s environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water.  Our suit aims to stop Denka’s dangerous pollution.”