DuPont Plant in Louisiana Fined $480,000 for Benzene Releases

DuPont’s chemical manufacturing facility in LaPlace, Louisiana, has agreed to pay a $480,000 fine and implement new equipment to prevent the release of benzene, a known human carcinogen, from its storage tank and piping systems. This consent agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was finalized on September 25, 2023, following an unannounced inspection that revealed benzene emissions exceeding federal limits.

The EPA inspection, which took place approximately two and a half years prior, monitored 77 valves and two pumps at the plant. It found alarming levels of benzene being emitted: 20,100 parts per million (ppm) from a vent on a benzene waste tank and 1,933 ppm from a pressure/vacuum valve. Additional leaks were detected from an open-ended line and another valve, with emissions measured at 542 ppm, just above the EPA’s permissible threshold.

DuPont spokesperson Daniel Turner stated, "We are pleased to resolve this matter with the U.S. EPA," noting that the company had disputed the EPA's instrument readings compared to those from its contractors. Despite these claims, Turner emphasized that DuPont has taken immediate corrective actions and that there were no adverse effects on site personnel or the surrounding community due to the violations.

The company's own measurements reported significantly lower emissions—1,650 ppm from the tank—though DuPont officials also identified higher readings from other valves. Exposure to benzene can lead to serious health issues, including dizziness, headaches, and respiratory irritation, with high-level exposure posing risks of unconsciousness.

Under federal law, industries handling benzene must ensure that tanks and pipelines have no detectable emissions, defined as readings below 500 ppm. The DuPont facility had been operating under a Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permit issued in 2020, which aligned with these federal prohibitions. Notably, a DEQ inspector was present during the EPA’s inspection.

The LaPlace plant is part of an industrial complex that also houses Denka Performance Elastomers, a company previously owned by DuPont and currently facing separate legal action from the EPA over chloroprene releases deemed hazardous to local residents. DuPont’s facility manufactures paraphenylenediamine (PPDA), a chemical used to produce Kevlar, a material known for its use in bulletproof vests.

Operating around the clock, the plant employs approximately 280 workers, including contractors. The PPDA production process generates benzene as a byproduct. While the plant previously sold this byproduct, it has since redirected it to a hazardous waste boiler on-site, with the resulting wastewater disposed of through an underground injection well.

This settlement reflects ongoing scrutiny of industrial emissions and the importance of regulatory compliance in protecting public health and the environment.