On August, 25th, 2023, a massive column of smoke started to erupt from Marathon Petroleum refinery, in Garyville, LA. Garyville United States
Melvin was a boilermaker for various industries. He was working in chemical tanks, near very hazardous products.
He lives on Burton Road in St James, surrounded by tanks. He is very sick. St James United States
Advertising on a shell refinery plant. Geismar United States
Advertising on a chemical tank by Mosaic Company, producer of concentrated phosphate and potash. Convent United States
A poor African American neighborhood near Marathon Petroleum refinery. Garyville United States
“Blue & Son” is the last grocery store in St James. The surrounding industries have bought out all the others.
“Everything has a price. If they want to buy it, I’ll probably sell it.”
— Kenneth St James United States
Road toward Donaldsonville, the town with one of the biggest and most polluting refineries of the area: CF Industries. United States
Very few full-time industry jobs are held by local African American residents. Yet jobs were always promised when each new plant is proposed. Donaldsonville United States
A grain elevator situated in the middle of a neighborhood. Reserve United States
Melvin is pointing a grain elevator. Grain elevators pose life-threatening health and safety consequences, including particulate air pollution, which can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious health problems. United States
Atalco alumina plant in Gramercy is the last operating alumina refinery in the United States. On January 7th, 2024, five workers were burned by the release of a high pH caustic solution.
The plant has had 370 safety violations within the past three years. Gramercy United States
Wallace is a small town of about 755 people. The majority-Black community is divided in half by the Mississippi River. Sugarcane plantations once lined each side of the river.
Now, a look at both sides of the river reads like a before and after snapshot.
On the west bank (right), sugarcane stalks shoot out of sprawling green fields as far as the eye can see. Small family homes and grand plantation houses that have seen centuries’ worth of births, deaths and memories are sprinkled throughout the never-ending stretches. The cultural landscape is largely intact.
The east bank (left) has been taken over by a tangle of metal, concrete and smoke. Layers of rust-colored dust coat everything, including roads, buildings and a once-green welcome sign near Atlantic Alumina Gramercy Operations. Wallace United States
Chloroprene is manufactured
by the plant and used in the production of neoprene.
It is a known human carcinogen causing respiratory impacts, irritation and burning of eyes and skin, chest pains, neurological symptoms, fatigue, changes in blood cells, reduced blood pressures, increased risk of developing cancer, damages developing fetus, causes spontaneous abortions and interferes with sperm production.
In 2016, samples by EPA showed levels exceeding by up to 373 times the comparison level for a 100 in 1 million cancer risk.
Denka releases an additional 27 chemicals in the air. Reserve United States
EPA’s air sampling next to the Fifth Ward Elementary School, to monitor the level of chloroprene in the air. Reserve United States
Report from Louisiana Environmental Action Network, dated Sep. 27, 2023.
It highlights the risks caused by Denka performance Elastomer and has been distributed to the local residents in order to raise awareness. Reserve United States
The activist and scientist Wilma Subra is trying to get permission to take blood samples from the cows next to Denka Performance Elastomer to prove the risk on humans. Reserve United States
James and his daughter live next to Denka Performance Elastomer.
“Do you really think there is something with the air?”
— James Reserve United States
Leroy near the fence separating his house to chemical tanks. Workers came in the 60’s to build the first one. His mother started to cook for them. Then he became a sandblast helper. St James United States
“It was fun. We made good money. Around $12/hr. Until one of the tanks overflowed. It happened a few times until they got caught by EPA. We had a class action suit against them. Everyone got $100.”
- Leroy United States
Football practice in Lutcher, LA. Lutcher United States
Field near Gramercy Park. Gramercy United States
Poverty rate reaches 22% in St John the Baptist Parish. There are 64.6% of Black of African American residents. Reserve United States
Silhouette of a woman pointing God in the sky. Gramercy United States
A lot of the local residents rely on churches as a strong community driver. United States
“Every morning, I take my cup of coffee and my pills. Otherwise, I get sore throat and swollen eyes.”
— Ali
Ali used to work in the tobacco fields. He now works at Whitney Plantation as a staff manager. Edgard United States
Freight train leaving a facility with chemicals. Donaldsonville United States
Sugar cane planting behind Marathon Refinery. Many African-American residents are descendants of slaves. This area was once dominated by vast plantations, now replaced by plants.
Sugar cane was the first ever polluter. Refineries were located close to the slaves' cabins. Garyville United States
Sugar cane planting behind Marathon Refinery. Many African-American residents are descendants of slaves. This area was once dominated by vast plantations, now replaced by plants.
Garyville, LA. Garyville United States
Close up on a local resident's boot. Gramercy United States
Bobby Taylor, founder of the Concerned Citizens of St. John, has his whole family buried in this cemetery.
“The only reason why the cemetary’s still there is that you can’t buy a cemetary.”
— Robert Bobby Taylor Reserve United States
Rise St James, a grassroots non-profit, led by the activist Sharon Lavigne fights the petrochemical industries.
A few months ago, they managed to halt the construction of Formosa Plastics, a $9.4B project composed of 14 plants in St James Parish.
Various active non-profits also fight in the area. St James United States
The pastor has been one of the first persons to fight the industries in St James, LA, before non-profits existed.
Faith-based organizations are still the cornerstone of poor communities in the US.
"Government is sold out to the industries. Things can hardly change." St James United States
On August, 25th, 2023, a massive column of smoke started to erupt from Marathon Petroleum refinery, in Garyville, LA. Garyville United States
Sani is 13 years old and suffers from asthma and various respiratory issues.
Me: “Why do you stay here, while the tank burns next to you?”
Janae: “To go where? We ain’t nowhere to go.” Garyville United States
A plant seen by night. United States
Prayer before a meeting. Residents gather to talk about pollution in the area, and potential actions. Welcome United States
Like other residents, Nicolette has had stage 4 cancer. She had parts of her breast removed.
“Our children have asthma, our elders have cancer.” United States
View of Louisiana Sugar Refining factory, from the park. Gramercy United States
Resident standing on the tracks of a freight train. Reserve United States
