"U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy intervened for company in 2019, delaying federal enforcement"

"Almost a decade after a Chalmette fuel plant admitted responsibility for most of the toxic sulfur dioxide emissions in St. Bernard Parish, federal regulators are taking steps that might finally force Louisiana and the plant to clear the air.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the parish’s air quality has failed to meet federal standards since at least 2013, largely due to emissions from the Rain CII Carbon plant. The company accepted responsibility for “the lion’s share” of the sulfur dioxide in the area during the EPA’s initial round of scrutiny that year.

Now the EPA plans to formally declare St. Bernard's air quality out of compliance. The move, expected in January, would require the state Department of Environmental Quality to develop a plan for the “expeditious attainment” of federal air quality standards. Remedies could include requirements for reduced emissions and more restrictive permits."

Tristan Baurick reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune December 13, 2021. [2]