The Atlantic
‘One Oppressive Economy Begets Another’
Louisiana’s petroleum industry profits from exploiting historic inequalities, showing how slavery laid the groundwork for environmental racism.
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Sharon Lavigne was teaching a special-education class when her daughter called to tell her about the Sunshine Project. Named for its proximity to Louisiana’s Sunshine Bridge, the operation, helmed by the Taiwanese behemoth Formosa Plastics, was on track to build one of the world’s largest plastic plants. Already the air Lavigne breathed in her native St. James Parish was some of the most toxic in the United States. Now Formosa planned to spend $9.4 billion on facilities that would make polymer and ethylene glycol, polyethylene, and polypropylene ingredients found in antifreeze, drainage pipes, and a variety of single-use plastics just two miles down the road from her family home. The concentration of carcinogens in the atmosphere could triple.
National Shortage of Chlorine Due to Biolab Fire
While I don t have a pool, I do run a business and we use a lot of chlorine. Looks like we will be stocking up because if reports are correct, chlorine products are going to be hard to come by real soon.
There is a nationwide chlorine shortage due to the Biolab chemical fire that occurred after Hurricane Laura. Biolab is one of the county s biggest chlorine producers. With the SWLA plant down, there will be a shortage felt most of the year.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality recently reported the plant will not produce any more chlorine until sometime in 2022. That said, pool companies and residents with pools may want to ride the wave and stockpile what they need now.
Nationwide chlorine shortage impacting pool owners, suppliers
Nationwide chlorine shortage impacting pool owners and suppliers By Jennifer Lott | May 5, 2021 at 9:32 PM CDT - Updated May 5 at 9:40 PM
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - A nationwide chlorine shortage is making waves for pool owners in the Lake Area, as residents are making a deep dive into supply stores.
“We had a little run yesterday,” said Scott Royer, supervisor of Pro Pools.
One of the biggest chlorine manufacturers supplying the nation is in Southwest Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says because of the Biolab chemical fire following Hurricane Laura, the company doesn’t plan to produce anymore chlorine until 2022.
Lightning Sparks Oil Tank Fire at Louisiana Production Site
Lightning associated with a line of strong thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon is believed to be the catalyst that started a fire at an active oil production site in Beauregard Parish. The site on Pete Gimnick Road was believed to have been struck by lightning during a thunderstorm sometime between 12:45 and 1 pm Tuesday afternoon.
According to reports two tanks were fully involved and eventually collapsed. This according to Beauregard Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One. That department responded to the scene as part of a mutual aid request from Beauregard Fire District 2.