Trump Administration Abandons Louisiana Families, Drops Lawsuit to Reduce Cancer-Causing Pollution
Statement of EDF Senior Vice President Sarah Vogel – March 7, 2025
“According to news sources, the Trump administration today turned its back on Louisiana families who are at extremely high risk of developing certain cancers because of their exposure to toxic air pollution.
“For decades these families in St. John the Baptist Parish, along the banks of the Mississippi River, have been exposed to toxic air pollution. Much of the pollution comes from one chemical plant – the Denka petrochemical plant, which emits cancer-causing chloroprene. The pollution from that plant is so bad that EPA sued the facility two years ago.
“On Tuesday night, in his address to Congress, President Trump talked a lot about the high rates of childhood cancer in our country and about getting toxins out of our environment. Today his administration reportedly decided to do the exact opposite and drop the lawsuit.
“This shameful decision means the Trump administration is effectively abandoning communities in the area – communities facing abnormally high cancer risks who deserve clean air to breathe.”
- Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at Environmental Defense Fund
With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
Latest press releases
-
Trump Administration Issues Another Mandate to Extend Expensive, Polluting Michigan Coal Plant Past Retirement
August 21, 2025 -
Memo: New Polling Shows Zeldin Approval Collapse
August 21, 2025 -
EDF Experts Join Hundreds of Americans at Virtual Forum, “Vigorously” Oppose Trump EPA Attacks on Endangerment Finding, Clean Car and Truck Standards
August 20, 2025 -
California Agencies Submit Report to Governor, Outline Actions to Accelerate Clean, Affordable Vehicles
August 19, 2025 -
Extension of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program Takes Encouraging Step Forward
August 19, 2025 -
Groups Ask Court to Block Trump EPA Rule That Delays Protections Against Oil and Gas Methane Pollution
August 18, 2025