Earthjustice Statement on Cancellation of Mitsubishi Petrochemical Plant in Cancer Alley

January 9, 2025

Earthjustice Statement on Cancellation of Mitsubishi Petrochemical Plant in Cancer Alley

Victory

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Company announces they no longer plan to build in Louisiana

Contacts

Zahra Ahmad, [email protected]

New Orleans, LA-

Earthjustice responded to Mitsubishi Chemical Group's cancellation of plans to build a toxic chemical plant in Cancer Alley. The proposed MMA (methyl methacrylate) plant in Geismar, Louisiana, would have released a large amount of air pollutants into an area already inundated with pollution and crowded with industrial facilities. These emissions would have included hundreds of tons of criteria air pollutants, like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, many tons of toxic air pollution like the carcinogen formaldehyde, and a staggering 780,752 tons of greenhouse gases.

"This is a win for communities over the petrochemical industry's attempts to force more toxic facilities into Cancer Alley," said Earthjustice Attorney Adam Kron. "Mitsubishi's decision to back out of this massive project shows the strength of local communities standing up and saying, 'enough is enough.' It's a huge win for the community, proving that collective action can make a real difference. We're proud to stand with our clients and partners in the fight against the reckless expansion of these harmful industries."

Earthjustice represented Louisiana-based groups RISE St. James, Healthy Gulf, and Louisiana Bucket Brigade to challenge the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's decision to grant an air operating permit for the facility. Earthjustice also represented RISE St. James, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Healthy Gulf, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Earthworks to submit comments on the proposed air permits for the Mitsubishi Chemical Group's planned facility.

Sharon Lavigne, foreground center, leads a rally against the "Sunshine Project," a massive petrochemical complex proposed for Cancer Alley in Louisiana. (Julie Dermansky)

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