Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1982-09-24

Duration: 00:08:33

Subjects: Environment | Guste, William J. | HAZARDOUS WASTES | Petro Processors of Louisiana, Inc. | Louisiana. Department of Natural Resources | United States. Environmental Protection Agency

Contributors:

• George, Beth Host
• Ekings, Robyn Reporter
• Guste, William Speaker
• Hudson, Tommy Speaker
• Simoneaux, Frank Speaker
• Screen, Pat Speaker

This segment from the September 24, 1982, episode of “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features a report on the controversy surrounding a national press conference given by Attorney General William Guste, where he warned the public of a potential environmental disaster at two abandoned hazardous waste disposal sites in north Baton Rouge similar to the Love Canal disaster area in Niagara Falls, New York. Through recent tests performed at the two abandoned sites, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that high concentrations of chemicals are threatening to enter the ground water and the Mississippi River. Both the federal government and the State of Louisiana are suing the sites’ former operators, Petro Processors of Louisiana, Inc., for the clean-up of the sites. This report includes footage of a press conference given by State Senator Tommy Hudson, Secretary Frank Simoneaux of the Department of Natural Resources and Baton Rouge Mayor Pat Screen criticizing Guste for comparing the two sites to Love Canal and alarming the public. Host: Beth George