Environmental and racial justice intersect at Cancer Alley
Air pollution disproportionately affects communities filled with people of color, exacerbating existing inequalities and sparking a conversation about environmental justice.
On a 85-mile (137 km) stretch of land along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans lies over 200 petrochemical plants and refineries. This plot of land is regionally known as Cancer Alley. The name was given to this area due to the alarming number of residents who have contracted or died from cancer, upper respiratory diseases and asthmatic conditions.
Beyond the alarming cancer rates, the report has also drawn attention to the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Low-income and minority communities residing in close proximity to the Cancer Alley are bearing the brunt of the environmental crisis. The unjust distribution of toxic burden has raised concerns about environmental justice and the need for equitable measures to protect the most vulnerable citizens.
There have been numerous community organizations that have been advocating against the ongoing environmental injustice. The St. James Citizens for the Environment (SJCJE) coalition was formed, drawing the support of legal groups like the Tulane University Environmental Law Clinic and the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. This coalition formed in response to Shintech Inc. who had announced plans to establish three new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturing plants in Convent, LA. Despite past victories, the fight for environmental justice in Cancer Alley continues.
Formosa Plastics Corporation proposed the Sunshine Project, a massive $9.4 billion industrial complex that could become the largest source of environmental harm in the region, emitting an estimated 13,628,086 tons of greenhouse gasses annually. The proposed site, spanning 2,500 acres, is alarmingly situated just one mile away from an elementary school. In response to this threat, a faith-based grassroots organization called RISE St. James, along with other environmental groups, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to challenge the permits issued for the Sunshine Project under the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit cites concerns about the destruction of wetlands, the failure to protect surrounding communities’ health and water, and the violation of the National Historic Preservation Act due to the discovery of unmarked graves of enslaved individuals on the site.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an investigation in April 2022 in response to complaints alleging racial discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It specifically addressed air pollution control programs that were believed to have led to adverse health and environmental impacts for Black residents, mainly in St. John the Baptist Parish, St. James Parish, and the Industrial Corridor.
On June 27, 2023, the EPA decided to close the investigation without releasing any official findings, offering relief to the affected communities, or holding Louisiana accountable for any potential violations. The EPA claimed that it engaged in informal negotiations with state agencies over several months, but no agreement was reached. Moreover, the agency mentioned taking other actions to address toxic pollution in the state.
Despite the setback, these communities are continuing their efforts to prevent any new fossil fuel or petrochemical operations from entering St. James in the future. The struggle for environmental justice and the protection of these vulnerable communities continues despite the EPA’s decision.
Cancer Alley has been a battleground for environmental justice, with local communities engaging in powerful organizing efforts to protect their well-being and environment. Victories against Shintech Inc. and Formosa Plastics Corporation demonstrate the power of collective action, but the fight is ongoing. As the region faces ongoing challenges, residents and activists remain determined to secure a future free from exploitation and environmental harm.