The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) will hold a public hearing on two projects to expand plastics production at Shintech’s Plaquemine facility.

Shintech is planning to increase its production capacity for ethylene and vinyl chloride monomer – both raw ingredients in plastics – at its facility in Iberville Parish, south of Baton Rouge. Combined, the expansions have the potential to emit an annual 747 tons per year of toxic carbon monoxide; 370 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds; and 79 tons of fine particle pollution, linked to multiple heart and lung diseases.

The projects could also potentially emit nearly 1.8 million tons annually of greenhouse gases, more than the amount produced by four natural gas-fired power plants in one year.

The LDEQ scheduled the meeting for 6 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2024, at the Iberville Parish Council Meeting Room – 2nd floor, 58058 Merriam Street, Plaquemine, LA70765. See the public notice and draft permit package for more information.