Major New Dioxin (PVC) Factory Proposed

[charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      dioxin-l@essential.org
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ACTION ALERT:
 
Help Stop the Construction of a MAJOR NEW DIOXIN FACTORY.
 
SHINTECH Corporation, a subsidiary of the Japanese firm, Shin-etsu, plans to
build one of the world's largest PVC feedstock facilities near Convent,
Louisiana (in an area already infamously known as "Cancer Alley").  Shintech
plans to produce 1.3 million pounds of chlorine annually, along with the
feedstocks for PVC, including ethylene dichloride (EDC-2.9 million pounds/yr),
and vinyl chloride (VCM-1.3 million pounds/year).  The proposed facility would
produce 1.3 million pounds of PVC powder (resin) per year.  Along with all this
the company would spew dioxins from at least one on-site incinerator. This is
the largest new chemical plant proposed for US in over a decade and, according
to Willie Fontenot of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), the
largest project in Louisiana history.
 
THE SHIFT IN DIOXIN (CHLORINE) SOURCES TO PVC
 
This is one of many expansions occurring in the PVC industry in the US. Most of
the other expansions have been capacity additions at existing VCM production
facilities in Louisiana and Texas.
  
As the use of chlorine is being reduced in industries such as the paper
industry and as an understanding of the environmental and occupational damage
from other chlorinated compounds such as solvents result in their rapid
phase-out, the chlorine industry has relied upon the PVC sector to pick up the
slack in chlorine demand.  The result is an investment in new PVC production
infrastructure -- the expansion of this highly-toxic industry in the Gulf of
Mexico region -- and the extensive marketing of all kinds of cheap PVC
products, especially in the construction materials market. 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL DISCRIMINATION
 
VCM facilities in the Gulf Region are predominantly located in low-income
communities, often communities of color.  EPA has yet to enforce President
Clinton's Executive Order on Environmental Justice with regard to the 
disproportionate impacts this industry has had on low-income communities.  Two
communities near VCM plants, Reveilletown (next to Georgia Gulf in Plaquemine)
and Morrisonville (next to Dow in Plaquemine) have already been bought up and
relocated because of groundwater contamination and the dangerous proximity of
the plants, though the communities were there before the corporations invaded
their space. 
 
Shintech has a lease option for approximately 2,800 acres of sugarcane fields,
leased by Entergy, as their prime site location, right across from the
Mississippi River. This land is currently the site of three sugar plantations
in Convent, Louisiana. The nearest community is Romeville.  The predominantly
African-American school, Romeville Elementary, is approximately 1.5 miles away
from the facility. Two low income housing
subdivisions are also in close proximately to the proposed plant. 
 
The Convent area is already impacted by the emissions from other heavy
industries, including Star (Texaco) and Chevron refineries, Dupont, Occidental
(another VCM production facility), Zen Noh grain elevators, and IMC-Agrico. 
 
TOXIC EMISSIONS
 
VCM plants all over the world have a track record of toxic air emissions,
groundwater contamination and dioxin and other pollution in the surrounding
environment. 
 
Vinyl Chloride is a carcinogen.  Other toxic chemicals,  including dioxins are
also created and released in large quantities from VCM plants.  Wastes from VCM
production contain up to Agent-Orange levels of dioxins, some of the highest
levels of dioxin ever found in industrial wastes.  When these wastes are
burned, some dioxins are released undestroyed to the environment, and more
dioxins are created and released as byproducts of the combustion process.
While the Vinyl Institute and its members claim VCM production is a small
source of dioxins, they have yet to produce any data to substantiate their
claim.   In fact, limits in analytical methods make this virtually impossible.
 
Other toxic organochlorines produced and released from VCM plants include PCBs,
Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene and a stew of other carcinogens and
endocrine-disrupting chemicals.  Some of the chemicals released to the  air are
also ozone-depleting chemicals.  Thus the PVC industry is also contributing to
the growing destruction of the protective ozone layer.
 
ECONOMIC INJUSTICE
 
Not only do VCM plants cause environmental and human health damage, but  they
can also be disruptive to local and regional economies, in that they  depend on
corporate welfare while providing few jobs for the subsidies they receive and
the emissions they release.  For example, in addition to a very profitable ten
year property tax exemption granted to new companies in Louisiana, the parish
president, Dale Hymel, also offered to help Shintech obtain a rebate for local
and state sales taxes paid during construction. Total savings are estimated to
be 129.9 million dollars. This is all at the cost of state and parish money for
roads and schools.  Very few of the jobs created by this plant will go to local
residents; many of the jobs will be contract, rather than permanent positions,
and the company will likely enjoy discount electrical rates, in effect forcing
other businesses and residents to subsidize the production of chlorine
(poison).  
 
PERMITS
 
The company wants to break ground soon.  They are seeking a crucial air permit,
which they need before commencing construction. A public hearing is scheduled
for Decemmber 9.  
 
WHO TO CONTACT:
 
Write:
 
LOUISIANA DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)
Contact: Gus Bodungen/ Asst. Secretary/ Office of Air & Radiation 
                                        Protection
         Robert Hannah/Administrator/Air Quality Regulatory 
                                     Division
P.O. Box 83135
Baton Rouge, LA 70884-2135
(504) 765-0219
FAX: 504-765-0222
 
GOVERNOR MIKE FOSTER
P.O. Box 44004
Capital Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(504) 342-7015
FAX: 504-342-7099
 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
Joanne Bennet, Regional Administrator 
Fountain Place 1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
(214) 665-6444
Fax 214-665-6648
 
For more information contact:
 
ST. JAMES CITIZENS FOR JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Contact: Pat Melancon
P.O. Box 331
Convent, LA 70723
(504) 562-3795
FAX: 504-562-3211
 
LOUISIANA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION NETWORK (LEAN)
Contact: MaryLee Orr
P.O. Box 66323
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
(504) 928-1315
FAX: 504-922-9247
 
OCAW Local 4-620/LABOR NEIGHBOR PROJECT
Contact: Dan Nicolai
8841 Bluebonnet Blvd. Ste. C
Baton Rouge, LA 70819
(504) 769-7939
FAX: 504- 767-8321
 
Greenpeace
Kishi Animashaun
750  Piedmont 
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 876-8256, x208.
 
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