Chemical plants must limit emissions

New EPA rule aims to reduce rates in US

By: Thao Nguyen
USA Today

..... More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions linked to cancer under a rule issued Tuesday [04/09/2024] by the Environmental Protection Agency.
..... The new regulations advances the Biden administration's commitment to protecting vulnerable communities burdened by toxic air pollution from petrochemical plants. The new standards are also part of President Joe Biden's initiative to lower cancer rates in the United States.
..... According to EPA assessments, about 104,000 people in the U.S. live within about 6 miles of facilities that make synthetic organic chemicals and various polymers and resins, including neoprene - and those living near these facilities face elevated risks of cancer.
..... Previous assessments from the EPA and public health experts have also noted that people living near polluting industrial facilities are disproportionately poor and more likely to be Black.
..... There residents "have borne the brunt of toxic air for far too long," EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
..... "We promised to listen to folks that are suffering from pollution and act to protect them," Regan added. "Today [04/09/2024] we deliver on that promise with strong final standards to slash pollution, reduce cancer risk, and ensure cleaner air for nearby communities."

Toxic emission can increase risk of lymphoma, leukemia

..... The new rule primarily targets industry plants that emit ethylene oxide and chloroprene, according to the EPA. Ethylene oxide is sued as a sterilizing agent for medical equipment, and chloroprene is used to make synthetic rubber.
..... The two chemicals are mostly produced by facilities in Texas and Louisiana, were minority communities have elevated rates of cancer and other critical health issues. According to the EPA long-term exposure to these two chemicals can increase the risks of certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and liver cancer.
..... Under the new rule, cancer risk for people living in these communities will be reduced by 96%, the EPA said. And more than 6,200 tons of toxic pollutants will be cut each year.
..... Once implemented and combined with another EPA rule issued last month [03/2024] restricting ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilization facilities, the new rule will reduce ethylene oxide and chloroprene emissions by nearly 80%, according to the agency.
..... Patrice Simms, vice preside of the environmental law firm Earthjustice, called the new rule "a victory in our pursuit for environmental justice." The rule also requires fence-line monitoring for covered processes and equipment that make use, store or emit pollutants.
..... Fence-line monitoring will help chemical manufacturers identify possible leaks form their facilities, which they will have to fix if annual average air concentrations are higher than the threshold, according to the EPA.
..... Chemical plants will also be required to reduce emissions of other dangerous chemicals, such as benzene, 1.3-butadiane, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride.
..... "By cutting emission of these chemicals, the rule reduce the risk of developing cancer from breathing in toxic air pollutants," the EPA said. "In addition, the rule will reduce smog-forming volatile organic compounds by 23,700 tons a year."

Minority community most affected by pollutants

..... Tuesday's [04/09/2024] announcement comes after the EPA filed a complaint against neoprene maker Denka in 2022 to force the company to cut chloropene emission at its facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. The Japanese company said this year [2024] that the EPA overstepped its authority when it sought rapid reductions of carcinogenic chloroprene emissions.
..... Since purchasing the facility in 2015, Denka said it has already invested more than $35 million to reduce the facility's chloroprene emissions. The company told USA Today that it will review the EPA's new rule and technical documents once they are available.
..... "After addressing EPA's unrealistic compliance deadline," Denka said in a statement Tuesday, [04/09/2024] the company "expects to join the ethylene oxide manufacturers across the U.S. in opposing the substantive requirements of this rule."
..... USA Today previously reported that in 2018, the Denka plant released the highest amount of toxic chemicals - more than 75,000 pounds of chloroprne which is about 42 times the amount of the next-highest emitter, according to EPA records.
..... The plant is in the Mississippi River chemical Corridor, an 85-mile industrial region between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. the region is also known as "Cancer Alley" because of its high number of petrochemical plants.
..... Cancer Alley has a disproportionate number of Black citizens: 40% of the population living there are Black, compared with 12% nationwide, according to Keele University.
..... For several years, Black residents in the region have lobbied local and state officials to take action against petrochemical plants emitting toxic pollutants into the air.

..... Contributing: Reuters.

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