A judge has paused — at least for the time being — construction of an industrial recycling facility in Port Allen where residents have raised concerns about toxic chemicals.
The company Thermaldyne provided a “deficiency” of information when it applied for a permit with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality last year, 19th Judicial District Judge William Morvant recently ruled. He ordered Thermaldyne to provide more information about pollutants at the facility, which is designed to receive material like tank bottoms from oil refineries.
Environmentalists cheered what they characterized as a correction to an irresponsible decision by state authorities to let the plant operate, claiming the facility would poison humans and wildlife. Thermaldyne officials did not return calls seeking comment Thursday but have vigorously defended their role as a site that provides safe recycling for otherwise dangerous materials. Because the matter is still tied up in court, state regulators cannot comment on the situation, DEQ Press Secretary Greg Langley said Thursday. SEE FULL ARTICLE written by Steve Hardy and originally published in the Advocate