Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: St. Gabriel, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, Alsen, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1993-10-22

Duration: 00:11:22

Subjects: Environment | Louisiana. Department of Environmental Quality | HAZARDOUS WASTES | Pollution

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Stewart, Juanita Interviewee
• Robinson, Florence Interviewee
• Shepherd, John Interviewee
• Templet, Paul Interviewee
• Etheridge, Harold Interviewee
• Jackson, Leonard Interviewee
• Wiygul, Robert Interviewee

This segment from the October 22, 1993, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features the third part of Arcie Chapa’s report on the controversy surrounding the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) decision to accept a draft permit for the construction of a hazardous waste facility in St. Gabriel by Supplemental Fuels, Inc. (SFI). Chapa reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating DEQ’s handling of the SFI permit application. Her report focuses on recent studies on environmental racism, which found that minority communities are disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution. She interviews: Juanita Stewart, an Alsen resident with a rare disease; Dr. Florence Robinson, a biologist and professor at Southern University; John Shepherd, assistant attorney general; Dr. Paul Templet, former DEQ secretary; Harold Etheridge, DEQ hazardous waste division; Leonard Jackson, Iberville Parish police juror; and Robert Wiygul, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. Host: Robert Collins