Trump exempts Louisiana plants from air pollution rules

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — President Donald Trump granted air pollution rule exemptions to 11 Louisiana chemical facilities.

A release from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) said the facilities will be exempt from changes to the EPA’s Hazardous Organic National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HON NESHAP). According to the EPA, these air pollutants can cause cancer.

A July 17 proclamation from the White House named multiple Louisiana plants granted a two-year exemption, including Shell Geismar, BASF Corporation, Denka Performance Elastomer and more.

Per Trump’s proclamation, the final HON rule published in May 2024 “imposes substantial burdens” on chemical manufacturers currently operating under strict regulations.

“The HON Rule imposes requirements that assume uniform technological availability across facilities, despite significant variation in site conditions, permitting realities, and equipment configurations. A disruption of this capacity would weaken key supply chains, increase dependence on foreign producers, and impair our ability to respond effectively in a time of crisis. These consequences would ripple across sectors vital to America’s growing industrial strength and emergency readiness,” according to the proclamation.

LDEQ Secretary Courtney Burdette said the agency was aware some plants applied for the exemption, and state-level leadership was monitoring.

“LDEQ will continue to enforce existing HON rules that still apply to these plants with no changes in how the agency oversees their operations. I appreciate the Administration carefully reviewing the Louisiana facilities mentioned and ensuring that companies here are following proper regulations,” Burdette said.

According to the state agency, facilities will be required to implement fenceline monitoring if operations involve any six high-risk chemicals.

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