Twelve petrochemical companies in Louisiana have received two-year exemptions from federal air pollution controls intended to cut cancer risks for nearby communities, following a proclamation issued by President Donald Trump.
David J. Mitchell and Josie Abugov report for The Advocate.
In short:
- The exemptions affect major facilities along the Mississippi River and in Lake Charles, including operations run by Shell, BASF, Dow, Union Carbide, and Sasol.
- The original HON rule, adopted during the Biden administration, aimed to reduce toxic emissions such as ethylene oxide and chloroprene by 6,200 tons annually and cut cancer risk for fence-line communities by 96%.
- Industry groups say they need more time due to technical and supply-chain challenges, while environmental advocates argue the delay threatens public health and signals a possible rollback of the regulations.
Key quote:
"When we signed that HON rule, we had hope that our community would be able to start to live again. Why would they take away this HON rule? It doesn't make sense for us to go backwards instead of forward."
— Sharon Lavigne, founder of RISE St. James
Why this matters:
Communities along Louisiana’s industrial corridor, sometimes called “Cancer Alley,” already face some of the highest cancer risks from airborne toxics in the nation. Ethylene oxide and chloroprene, central to the delayed rule, are known or likely carcinogens linked to long-term exposure in nearby neighborhoods. Many of these communities are predominantly Black and low-income, raising environmental justice concerns that have drawn national attention. Delaying pollution controls could prolong exposure to chemicals that linger in air and soil, compounding health disparities.
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