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Fight continues in St. James Parish after court grants permit for Formosa Plant

Summary

The article discusses the ongoing battle in St. James Parish, Louisiana, after the 19th Judicial District Court granted Formosa Plastics the air permit necessary to construct a petrochemical plant. The court's decision overturned a prior judge's ruling to discard the permit in 2022. Rise St. James, an environmental justice group, opposed the plant's construction, citing concerns about the concentration of chemical plants in the area, referred to as "Cancer Alley." The $9.4 billion plant, comprising 10 chemical manufacturing plants, is expected to emit over 800 tons per year of toxic chemicals. Rise St. James argues that the plant's location, near an elementary school and a community of color, raises environmental racism issues. Despite the court ruling, the group plans to engage with the Army Corps of Engineers for an environmental impact study and escalate their appeal to President Joe Biden.

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