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. Sign up hereinstead Legal Opinions Consumer Information Once taxpayer obligations are If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange. We need action now for our children and want this to be put in place immediately.. Official websites use .gov The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. Twitter, Follow us on 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taking an unprecedented step deviating from its permitting and rulemaking authorities to allege an emergency based on outdated and erroneous science the agency released over 12 years ago, the statement said. The lawsuit also names a subsidiary of the US chemicals giant DuPont, which constructed the Pontchartrain Works facility as a neoprene plant and operated it for over half a century. The facility is the only site in the US to emit the compound, which is a primary constituent of the synthetic rubber neoprene. Maite Amorebieta is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit. Separately, the two groups sued the EPA for missing a deadline to update its regulations for neoprene manufacturing plants. Japanese company Denka, along with US chemicals giant DuPont, have operated the plant that produces cancer-causing chloroprene. & authorize PayStar to process this payment along with the service fee of $0.00 which will also be charged to the credit/debit card. Provides legal services to the statein the areas of consumer protection and environmental law, insurance receivership, and fair housing. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. This is a secure service provided by United States Department of the Treasury. 2:01. Custom payment integrations and software development. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Loading. Last January, the environmental watchdog Earthjustice, on behalf of the local advocacy group Concerned Citizens of St. John and the Sierra Club, filed a civil rights complaint with the EPA against Louisianas health department and environmental agency for subjecting Black residents of St. John to disproportionate air pollution from numerous industrial facilities, including Denka. EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement that he had promised strong action for community members during a site visit to Reserve in November 2021. transactions of this sort, is completed through third part vendors (Official Payments Corp. and Payment Tech, Inc.). Provides legal representation to the State, its agencies, and its employees in all tort claims seeking damages and defends claims managed by the ORM or any post-secondary education institution granted an exemption from the States risk management program. The complaint, first reported by NBC News, was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for Eastern Louisiana on behalf of the EPA under the Clean Air Act. The EPA said it found during an investigation that state agencies had failed to provide residents with information about the cancer risks associated with chloroprene levels in the area, among other problems. The date coincides with the date the IRS begins accepting federal income tax returns. Note: This system may contain Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) data that requires specific data privacy handling. Please review our privacy policy 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 . And either they use their money and do it right or face the power of the EPA., Cancer and chemicals in Reserve, Louisiana: the science explained, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Unauthorized or improper use of this information system is prohibited and may subject you to disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties. The complaint also names DuPont Specialty Products USA LLC the owner of the land beneath Denkas facility and Denkas landlord. In a statement, associate attorney general Vanita Gupta said: The justice departments environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 708049005 (225) 326-6079. Louisiana File Online allows taxpayers to: Taxpayers may also submit their returns using commercially available tax preparation software, or with printed state returns available at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/Forms. Chief Deputy Attorney General: Bill Stiles, Communications DuPont did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Director: Chris Hebert, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. outreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. To set up payment arrangements, please contact ODR at 225-219-2188 or 844-330-6176. This will have a tremendous impact on our struggle here, said Robert Taylor, a founder of Concerned Citizens of St John Parish. Sign In BATON ROUGE Thousands of Louisiana taxpayers have until Thursday, Oct. 6 to claim millions of dollars in state income tax refunds before the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) transfers them to the states Unclaimed Property fund. Instagram, Follow us on ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Denkas facility, owned by a Japanese company of the same name, was previously a DuPont petrochemical plant. LaPlace is in the majority-Black St. John the Baptist Parish,about 30 miles outside of New Orleans. 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. Donate today to keep our climate news free. Our suit aims to stop Denkas dangerous pollution.. Contact: dcfs.louisiana.gov 627 N. Fourth St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.524.3578 About the Agency. The information you will enter will remain private. Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request. Kindly keep in mind that although your credit card transaction will post to your credit card statement upon payment, this processing, like other electronic This makes me feel like we have something to look forward to, not five or 10 years from now we need it to happen now.. 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. Department of Justice ag.louisiana.gov 1885 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225.326.6079 The Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Louisiana. 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. The suit claims that emissions remain so high that a child breathing air near certain monitors around the facilitys fence line would exceed their lifetime excess cancer risk within two years. The unavoidable closure of our Monroe office deprived taxpayers in northeast Louisiana of a convenient option for in-person customer service, Secretary of Revenue Kevin Richard said. 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 An official website of the United States government. The material was invented by scientists at Dupont, the American chemical giant that owns the complex where Denka operates, and that sold it the neoprene plant in 2015. Serves as legal advisor and legal representative to all Louisiana gaming regulatory agencies. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. She also served as Executive Counsel to Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and practiced law with a Baton Rouge firm. On Jan. 23, taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns electronically through Louisiana File Online, the states free web portal for individual tax filers. On Tuesday, Regan said in a statement that the company had not moved far enough or fast enough on those requests. Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise, Regan said. WELCOMEto the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. 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 . 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 DuPont is a necessary party to ensure there are no delays in any actions that Denka is ordered to take to reduce its chloroprene emissions as a result of the rights DuPont holds under its lease agreement with Denka. The Louisiana Department of Revenue provides for secured payment of returns through use of credit card vendors. 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. Have a question about Government Services? document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Biden administration sued a chemical company operating in southeast Louisiana on Tuesday, compelling it to face up to the cancer risk generated by its toxic emissions, a move that activists have been demanding for years. Official websites use .gov highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the US, Pontchartrain Works facility in Reserve, Louisiana, enforcement action in the Cancer Alley region, during a site visit to Reserve in November 2021, were part of a years-long Guardian series. Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Louisiana. The Civil Division represents the State of Louisiana, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. IE 11 is not supported. met, within 72 hours, LDR will notify and authorize the issuing state agencies to remove such liens. WASHINGTON - Today, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorney's 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 . Be the first to find out about the latest legal news, updates, tips, and other information. Denka said in a statement that it has reduced emissions by about 85% since it took over the plant in 2015. The re-opening of the office provides the area with a vital resource for the resolution of a wide range of state tax matters, in addition to any business they might have with the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, which will have staff assigned there.. DuPont still owns the land beneath Denkas facility so is also named in the DOJ complaint. Please enable cookies before continuing. Eastern District of Louisiana The Department of Justice receives hundreds of legal questionsevery year from state and local authorities, resulting in opinions that carry significant weight in the legal community. These payments must be made to your U. S. District Court Clerks Office. 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. Our mission is to protect and serve all residents of Southeast Louisiana through enforcement of the laws of the United States. In total, those changes have cost more than $35 million, the company said in its statement. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. A locked padlock Every justice of the peace and constable is required to attend the Justices of the Peace Training course offered by the attorney general at least once every other year. Your dealings with us should be as quick and painless as possible. are NOT included in the balance due to LDR. Lock 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. In its complaint filed on Tuesday, the Justice Department also named Dupont as a party responsible for ensuring that the plant reduces its emissions of chloroprene, which has been linked to numerous cancers and diseases of the nervous, immune, and respiratory systems. Mallett earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and her law degree from Loyola . Taxpayers using credits cards to pay outstanding balances due the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) must plan for additional transaction time if Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. YouTube, Follow us on The Fifth Ward elementary school and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka plant, back left, in Reserve, Louisiana. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A lock ( Facebook, Follow us on The department will issue paper checks to all taxpayers submitting completed vouchers by the Oct. 6 deadline. PayStar Payment Portal PayStar Payment Portal 95 Louisiana Attorney General Louisiana Attorney General Educational Other Debt Revenue State Agency Cancel P.O. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise. An official website of the United States government. Pay.gov is a program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service. DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR CRIMINAL PAYMENTS. The air samples were taken at or across the street from a nearby elementary school. AG Jeff Landry: Be cautious of where you place your bets to ensure you protect your information, receive fair odds, and get paid when you win. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services works to keep children safe, helps individuals and families become self-sufficient and operates shelters during disasters. Please click here to see any active alerts. Moreover, our priorities go beyond prosecuting criminals and litigating cases, as we serve our community through a variety ofoutreach programs, community resources, and victim-witness services. 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. Its complicated. 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. 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. 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. YouTube. 1-877-297-0995 constituentservices@ag.louisiana.gov MENU Home About Divisions News Resources Collections Contact Search Protecting Innocence This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Your Address, Corporation Income/Franchise Extension Request, File returns and pay taxes electronically, Check the status of individual income tax refunds, Submitting completed state individual income tax returns and making payments (staff cannot assist with the completion of tax returns), ATC/Video Poker/Lottery/Drivers License/Wildlife & Fisheries tax clearances, Resolving bank levies and wage garnishments. WELCOME to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In particular, he expressed concern for the 300 students attending the nearby Fifth Ward Elementary School. Justice.gov; News; Oversees all departmentoperations. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. 2021 Recap Video. For Credit Card transactions, a state charge of the greater of $2.00 or 2.5% of the total transaction will be added to your invoice in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:316.1 The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. . The US justice department has sued the two petrochemical giants behind a facility in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" responsible for the highest cancer risk rates caused by air pollution in the . payment processing to be completed within 3 or 4 business days of the transaction. ContractforProfessionalLegalServicesTemplate.pdf, GuidetoLAJPCourts2ndEdition9.28.2021forweb.pdf, AmendedOpenMeetingsGuidanceinlightofCOVID-19andtherecentpassageofR.S.4217.1.pdf. The Denka Performance Elastomer plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, along the Mississippi River, is the only facility in the U.S. that produces chloroprene, a chemical used in the production of neoprene. Chloroprene is a liquid raw material used to produce neoprene and is emitted into the air from various areas at the facility. Should you choose this option, you can expect For ACH transactions, a state charge of $2.00 will be added to your invoice in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:316.1. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' SONRIS (Strategic Online Natural Resources Information System) tool provides data access (e.g., oil and gas information, coastal information), document access (e.g., Office of Conservation oil/gas production cards and field orders, Office of Mineral Resources lease records), GIS access (e.g . Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. Director: Sonia Mallett, Public Protection Sonia Mallett has spent the majority of the last 25 years serving with the Louisiana Department of Justice. Director: Mike Dupree. This complaint seeks to compel Denka to eliminate the public health endangerment caused by its emissions by greatly reducing the levels of chloroprene to which this community is being exposed. Denkas facility is the only one in the country that makes neoprene, a type of synthetic rubber used for wetsuits and mousepads, a process which releases the carcinogen chloroprene. assistance. . So far, approximately 4,000 have responded to claim their refunds. The Justice Departments environmental justice efforts require ensuring that every community, no matter its demographics, can breathe clean air and drink clean water. The Monroe Regional Office will be open for walk-in customer service Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., no appointments needed. Its litigation reflects the diversity of government activities, involving, for example, the defense of challenges to state programs, actions and laws; debt collection owed to the state; and protection of the states natural resources, lands and water bottoms. Louisianas Department of Environmental Quality reached an agreement with Denka requiring the company to install pollution controls in 2017. method of making certain that your payments are received and posted correctly and on-time. Provides legal representation to the state, its departments and agencies, boards and commissions, and statewide elected officials. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In August, LDR sent Notice of Unclaimed Property letters to 20,400 individual and business taxpayers. System personnel may give to law enforcement officials any potential evidence of crime found on U.S. Government information systems. An official website of the United States government. The agency is now under a court order to get it done. Its litigation reflects the diversity of government activities, involving, for example, the defense of challenges to state programs, actions and laws; debt collection owed to the state; and protection of the state's natural resources, lands and water . In 2010, EPA published its peer-reviewed assessment of chloroprene that concluded that chloroprene is likely to be carcinogenic to humans. Approximately 20% of the total population living within two-and-a-half miles of Denka are children under the age of 18, and between about 800-1,000 are children under the age of five. Pay.gov requires the use of cookies. Serves as the principal liaison between the Attorney General's Office, the media, and the public. 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. Disaster Fraud Hotline: Report fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, Felon Sentenced to 65 Months for Federal Gun Charge, Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine, Dr. Charles J. Southall, III Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Money Laundering, Obtaining Over $889,000 Through Fraud, New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Carjacking, and Weapons Violations, Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry. A statement issued by Denka on Tuesday said the company strongly disagrees with the legal action and urged the EPA to re-evaluate its findings on chloroprene exposure. This complaint filed against Denka delivers on that promise.. All data contained on U.S. Government information systems is owned by the U.S. Government and may, for the purpose of protecting the rights and property of the U.S. Government, be monitored, intercepted, recorded, read, searched, copied, or captured in any manner and disclosed or used for any lawful government purpose at any time. Environmental lawyers and residents of St. John have petitioned state and federal authorities to do more to tamp down Denkas emissions for years. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Now, the DOJ has filed a complaint to compel Denka to further reduce its hazardous emissions.

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