In the late 1980’s the stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans began to be called “Cancer Alley” by the environmental community and industry neighbors concerned about the impact of industry emissions on their health. This was partly a reaction to the publication of the first Toxic Release Inventory reports in 1988 which, for the first time, required the public reporting of releases of toxic chemicals. This prompted changes in the way chemical plants and refineries interacted with their neighbors from a “don’t worry about what happens behind the fence” to a more open communication between industry and the community. After about a 20 year lull, the term “Cancer Alley” is back; in large part due to the permitting and construction greenfield chemical plants in areas previously used for agriculture. Social media also provides a new avenue of communication that the environmental community has embraced wholeheartedly. The presenter has worked in industry and consulting in the environmental field in Louisiana for 35 years. She will discuss t anecdotes from her interactions with environmental justice communities over the years. This will include how industry responded to community concerns during the 90’s and what the reaction was to those actions. She will also discuss recent concerns from environmental justice communities and tips for addressing those concerns.
.jpg)
