South Louisiana’s petrochemical industry, ports and local governments are facing a barrage of lawsuits from a small but coordinated network of environmental justice groups, The Center Square writes.
From St. James to Cameron Parish, nonprofits such as The Descendants Project, Inclusive Louisiana, RISE St. James and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade have turned to the courts to fight zoning disputes, industrial permits and parish decisions. Their litigation has drawn in parish commissions, state agencies and global companies alike.
The Descendants Project has challenged a 1990 zoning change that cleared the way for Formosa Plastics, alleging corruption in the original vote. Alongside Inclusive Louisiana, it has also filed claims under the 13th Amendment, citing the graves of enslaved people on disputed land. The Bucket Brigade, meanwhile, has joined groups like the Sierra Club to oppose LNG facilities, refinery expansions and even local tax break deals.
Supporters say these lawsuits give a voice to majority-Black communities long overshadowed by industry and facing high cancer rates. Critics, including the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, counter that the litigation is aimed at delaying projects, raising costs and deterring investment. Backed by hundreds of thousands of dollars from out-of-state foundations, the groups show no sign of easing their legal pressure.
