It’s back! Formosa Plastics is trying to resurrect its plastics plant proposed for St. James Parish – the one we’ve told them loud and clear we do not want. You may remember the threat that the plastic pollution from the facility would pose to catfish in our beloved Lac des Allemands. Earlier this year, the company applied to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for an unprecedented fourth renewal of its air permit.

Did Formosa managers think we wouldn’t notice its fourth attempt at life? Formosa is the movie zombie that won’t go away. But neither will we. Our lawyers at Earthjustice continue to scrutinize the Formosa permit applications, and we are grateful for their diligence.

Formosa’s initial plan said it would be up and running by the early 2020’s. In partnership with St. James Parish residents led by Inclusive Louisiana and Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, we have prevented that from happening. This delay has slammed shut the window of economic opportunity for the company. It no longer makes economic sense (if it ever did) to build it.

Thank you for standing with us,

Anne Rolfes
Director

P.S. You may have noticed our Governor and Attorney General crowing yesterday about their role in attacking the Voting Rights Act. This attempted disenfranchisement is the same philosophy behind massive state support – $600 million – for the industrialization of the Black community of Modeste. It’s all connected.

[Image caption: Joey Fonseca of Outlaw Katfish testifys against Formosa.]