The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board voted on Thursday to shut down a predominantly Black elementary school near a petrochemical facility that has faced multiple lawsuits due to its high toxic emissions.
Denka Performance Elastomer LLC, located near the school, produces neoprene, a synthetic rubber used in products like wetsuits and laptop sleeves. The facility emits chloroprene, a substance that is considered a likely carcinogen. According to a 2023 complaint filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the emissions expose the surrounding Black community to cancer risks deemed unacceptable.
