concerned that you have a
say into any decision that will affect your town, your
neighborhoods. But we must consider economic impact as well. If we
do not, we could very well ignore a very real need for jobs in this
state and a strong economic base of industry." He was interrupted
briefly by scattered applause.
"Thank you, Mr. Garrett. After the
presentation by Batton Chemical, we have time set aside for
comments from members in the audience who have registered to state
their positions. Each speaker will have five minutes. Mr.
Singleton, if you're ready."
"Thank you. Just let me begin by saying we at
Batton Chemical are very concerned about safety. We have the
welfare of the community in mind, not to mention our employees. You
have before you a copy of our own report and the independent report
from Mr. Paul Honorè of Eco Systems Consultants. I will briefly
summarize our plant operations. I will then review the findings of
both reports. It will then be quite clear, crystal clear gentlemen,
that we meet or exceed industry standards of safety as a recycling
facility."With assistance from a Batton Chemical engineer,
Singleton launched into a technical explanation.
"Look like they impressed with all them big
words and fancy charts." A man standing close to Antoine spoke loud
enough for only a few to hear.
"All the high an' mighty talk in the world
ain't gone changed nuthin'. These people gone have a lot to say
'bout all them chemical they wanna bring here." Antoine tried to
sound confident; he frowned in concentration trying to follow
Singleton's jargon.
"Poppy, did you get anybody that understands
all of this to do a report for our side?" Savannah knew
environmental law to some extent. She also knew that without a
track record of violations to attack, the opponents would have an
uphill battle.
"Mencer say they schedule the hearin' so
fast, we didn't have time. But I don't think that matter no how.
The law say they got to listen to how we feel 'bout this here."
"But you need at least some research as
ammunition."
"We got how many people got cancer; how many
times we get sick from that old dump site that nobody done nothin'
about. That's oughta count for somethin'."
"But--"
"Thank you, Mr. Singleton. Mr. Garrett, Mr.
Mouton, do you have any more questions? Then we will take comments
from the audience."
A string of outraged citizens vented their
opposition to the proposed plant. Like Antoine, they spoke about
the toll cancer had taken on their families and friends. More than
one expressed frustration that state officials seemed more inclined
to listen to the plant owners. The expressed skepticism at the
insistence that no proven connection had been made between certain
diseases and the tons of waste discharged by the oil and chemical
industry.
"Why for the last thirty years, all these
plants been in poor, Black areas like Kentwood, Evangeline, and
Bayou Rouge? They passed up River Bend, forty miles down the river
road from Iberia. Put that plant smack in poor folks back yards."
Miss Lucille, a statuesque woman the color of dark chocolate, shook
her finger at the white men as if scolding children caught being
bad, a habit acquired from forty years of teaching.
"Yes, ma'am," The president of the Police
Jury said. The other men nodded respectfully. "Miss Lucille, your
time is almost up."
"I know that Mr. Shelby Leblanc, I've been
keeping time. You hold on a minute. Antoine, come up here. We need
you to talk." She shooed away several others who had gotten up to
speak. They sat back down obediently.
"Wait, now. They done had they chance to
talk. Not everybody tryin' to buck this thing. Ain't some of us
gonna get a chance?" Encouraged by a few voices of assent, a wiry
man with limp brown hair stood. From his weather beaten skin, it
was clear he had spent much time in the hot Louisiana sun.
"We want to hear everybody's side to this,
Manny. Go head." The police jury president nodded for him to go
on.
"One thing ain't been
say into any decision that will affect your town, your
neighborhoods. But we must consider economic impact as well. If we
do not, we could very well ignore a very real need for jobs in this
state and a strong economic base of industry." He was interrupted
briefly by scattered applause.
"Thank you, Mr. Garrett. After the
presentation by Batton Chemical, we have time set aside for
comments from members in the audience who have registered to state
their positions. Each speaker will have five minutes. Mr.
Singleton, if you're ready."
"Thank you. Just let me begin by saying we at
Batton Chemical are very concerned about safety. We have the
welfare of the community in mind, not to mention our employees. You
have before you a copy of our own report and the independent report
from Mr. Paul Honorè of Eco Systems Consultants. I will briefly
summarize our plant operations. I will then review the findings of
both reports. It will then be quite clear, crystal clear gentlemen,
that we meet or exceed industry standards of safety as a recycling
facility."With assistance from a Batton Chemical engineer,
Singleton launched into a technical explanation.
"Look like they impressed with all them big
words and fancy charts." A man standing close to Antoine spoke loud
enough for only a few to hear.
"All the high an' mighty talk in the world
ain't gone changed nuthin'. These people gone have a lot to say
'bout all them chemical they wanna bring here." Antoine tried to
sound confident; he frowned in concentration trying to follow
Singleton's jargon.
"Poppy, did you get anybody that understands
all of this to do a report for our side?" Savannah knew
environmental law to some extent. She also knew that without a
track record of violations to attack, the opponents would have an
uphill battle.
"Mencer say they schedule the hearin' so
fast, we didn't have time. But I don't think that matter no how.
The law say they got to listen to how we feel 'bout this here."
"But you need at least some research as
ammunition."
"We got how many people got cancer; how many
times we get sick from that old dump site that nobody done nothin'
about. That's oughta count for somethin'."
"But--"
"Thank you, Mr. Singleton. Mr. Garrett, Mr.
Mouton, do you have any more questions? Then we will take comments
from the audience."
A string of outraged citizens vented their
opposition to the proposed plant. Like Antoine, they spoke about
the toll cancer had taken on their families and friends. More than
one expressed frustration that state officials seemed more inclined
to listen to the plant owners. The expressed skepticism at the
insistence that no proven connection had been made between certain
diseases and the tons of waste discharged by the oil and chemical
industry.
"Why for the last thirty years, all these
plants been in poor, Black areas like Kentwood, Evangeline, and
Bayou Rouge? They passed up River Bend, forty miles down the river
road from Iberia. Put that plant smack in poor folks back yards."
Miss Lucille, a statuesque woman the color of dark chocolate, shook
her finger at the white men as if scolding children caught being
bad, a habit acquired from forty years of teaching.
"Yes, ma'am," The president of the Police
Jury said. The other men nodded respectfully. "Miss Lucille, your
time is almost up."
"I know that Mr. Shelby Leblanc, I've been
keeping time. You hold on a minute. Antoine, come up here. We need
you to talk." She shooed away several others who had gotten up to
speak. They sat back down obediently.
"Wait, now. They done had they chance to
talk. Not everybody tryin' to buck this thing. Ain't some of us
gonna get a chance?" Encouraged by a few voices of assent, a wiry
man with limp brown hair stood. From his weather beaten skin, it
was clear he had spent much time in the hot Louisiana sun.
"We want to hear everybody's side to this,
Manny. Go head." The police jury president nodded for him to go
on.
"One thing ain't been
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