A 16-year-old polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturing facility south of Baton Rouge could continue to grow if Louisiana regulators approve proposed air permits.

On August 9, 2024, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ )issued draft air permits for the construction and operation of two expansion projects at the Shintech Plaquemine facility in Iberville Parish. The subsidiary of Japanese chemical firm Shin-Etsu began producing PVC at the site in 2008.

The expansion projects include the proposed Plaquemine Ethylene Plant 2 (PEP-2) and Plaquemine Plant 4 (SPP-4). PEP-2 would produce ethylene by cracking ethane, and SPP-4 would manufacture vinyl chloride monomer, which is used to make PVC.

LDEQ will host a public hearing at 6 p.m. local time at the Iberville Parish Council Meeting Room – 2nd floor, 58058 Merriam Street, Plaquemine, LA 70765. LDEQ is accepting public comments and requests for additional hearings until 4:30 p.m. Central on Sept. 11, 2024. See the public notice for more information.