LaPlace, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
The U.S. EPA continues to investigate high levels of chloroprene in LaPlace, LA, that were discovered during a national screening assessment of air toxics in the United States. To determine if these levels are, indeed, present in the air, the EPA and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality are conducting air monitoring in the community. To keep the public informed, the results of the monitoring, as well as background information about chloroprene, are presented on this website.
Background information
What we know
Inspection Reports
- Inspection Report for Denka Performance Elastomers, LLC on April 18-21, 2022 (pdf) (31.56 MB, April 18-22, 2022)
- Inspection Report for Denka Performance Elastomers, LLC on May 5, 2022 (pdf) (12.09 MB, May 5, 2022)
- Solids Sampling Report for Denka Performance Elastomers, LLC on May 9-11, 2023 (pdf) (11.88 MB, September 13, 2023)
- Inspection Report for Denka Follow-up Inspection May 9-11, 2023 (pdf) (289.92 KB)
- Denka Report Appendices (pdf) (13.92 MB)
Enforcement
- Denka RCRA Consent Agreement (pdf) (3.73 MB, December 20, 2022)
- Denka Clean Air Act ISE Complaint (pdf) (2.9 MB, 02-28-2023)
- Denka Clean Air Act Complaint Press Release
- Motion for Preliminary Injunction (PDF) (24.21 MB, March 20, 2023) Please download to view all attachments.
- Press Release for Preliminary Injunction
- Denka First Amendment to Consent Agreement (pdf) (272.51 KB, March 25, 2024)
Agency response
Citizens can call the toll-free line at 800-887-6063 or email R6_SJB@epa.gov
James Leathers
EPA Region 6 Air Toxics Program
214.665.6569
leathers.james@epa.gov (leathers.james@epa.gov)
Ruben Casso
EPA Region 6 Air Toxics Program
214-665-6763
casso.ruben@epa.gov
(casso.ruben@epa.gov)
Gregory Langley
LDEQ Communications Director
225-219-3964
gregory.langley2@la.gov (gregory.langley2@la.gov)
Aly Neel
LDH Communications Director
225-342-5275
aly.neel@la.gov
(aly.neel@la.gov)
Baileigh Rebowe Helm
St. John the Baptist Parish, Communications Director
985-652-9569 extension 1178
b.rebowe@sjbparish.com (b.rebowe@sjbparish.com)
All inquiries from the news media should be directed to the EPA Region 6 Press Office at 214.665.2200 or email R6press@epa.gov.