Ascension Parish was in the top ten counties in the nation for air pollution in 2023, the most recent year available. Sandwiched between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the parish is at the epicenter of “Cancer Alley,” a stretch of Louisiana along the Mississippi River where the rates of numerous forms of cancer are many times the national average.

It’s also where oil refineries and petrochemical plants are tightly packed – especially near and within historically Black neighborhoods, spewing emissions into the air and frequently leeching petroleum byproducts into the surrounding land and water.

That’s why Governor Landry’s announcement of a new steel mill in West Ascension Parish from the White House this morning has sparked outrage from local leaders and residents on the ground. In a shocking betrayal of his own constituents, the governor announced he would be rolling out the proverbial red carpet for the South Korea-based multinational corporation, despite the community’s fears that, like other steel and metallurgical facilities, the proposed plant will emit fine particulate matter. Beyond the usual risk of cancer, fine particulate pollution is also linked to asthma, emphysema, lung and cardiovascular disease.

“If this plant were so wonderful, Hyundai would build it in its home country of South Korea,” said Anne Rolfes, Executive Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. “Instead, the company is exporting pollution to Louisiana – and no one is standing up for us.”

Adding insult to injury, the owners of the proposed plant will benefit from Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which offers up to a 10-year exemption on local property taxes for new or expanded facilities. Additionally, Ascension Parish has proposed a rebate of two cents per dollar on eligible local sales. While the statewide program and proposed local tax exemption are purportedly offered in the name of economic development, the plant is expected to bring only approximately 20 permanent new jobs to the local area. Meanwhile, the long-term economic benefits are unlikely to outweigh costs if tax exemptions reduce local revenue that would otherwise support schools, infrastructure, and public services.

“Who will ensure safe operations? How will the company implement rigorous safety protocols and ensure proper disposal methods? These are questions that we in the community need answers to,” said Ashley Gaignard, President of Rural Roots, an Ascension Parish-based community group. “We are already inundated with polluting facilities – and no government agency, state or federal, has protected our interests,” she continued. “We have no reason to believe there will be any oversight of this plant.”

ABOUT LOUISIANA BUCKET BRIGADE

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade collaborates with communities on the fenceline of polluting industry in Louisiana. We engage in grassroots action to hasten the transition from fossil fuels.

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