This Juneteenth, as we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States, I reflect on a monumental victory for historically marginalized communities across the nation. One of the most historic days for environmental justice in EPA rulemakings occurred in just the past few months. On April 9, 2024, EPA issued new standards to protect neighborhoods near more than 200 manufacturing facilities that release airborne toxic chemicals such as ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, vinyl chloride, 1,3 butadiene, and ethylene dichloride.
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The chemical manufacturing rule, designed to dramatically reduce toxic emissions from industrial plants, promises a future where health risks like cancer could be substantially diminished in affected areas. The rule promises to reduce exposure to some of the most toxic pollutants that blanket communities, like St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana, which is surrounded by industrial pollution and is marked by disproportionately high rates of illness. Patrice Simms, Vice President of Healthy Communities at Earthjustice, described the rule as a matter of life and death, linking reduced toxic exposure directly to the prevention of serious health issues like leukemia, breast cancer, and neurological impairments.
As I sat in the room where EPA’s new standards were unveiled, the atmosphere was one of quiet determination rather than celebration—reflecting the gravity, and long-anticipated significance, of the occasion.
Although the announcement marked a significant milestone for environmental justice in communities historically overburdened by toxic pollution, hearing the stories shared by those directly affected brought mixed feelings. Being in the room with those who have dedicated their lives to protecting the health of people overburdened by petrochemical pollution, it’s difficult to avoid feeling frustrated over how long it has taken for the outcries against injustice—while communities have suffered decades of trauma—to finally be addressed.
Many of the facilities impacted by this rule are in Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia, and other areas along the Gulf Coast and Ohio River Valley. These regions, often home to predominantly Black or Latino communities, have long faced disproportionate health burdens. The Houston Ship Channel area, in Texas, is known for its dense concentration of refineries and chemical plants, where researchers have found an elevated risk of developing leukemia and other cancers for residents living near chemical manufacturing facilities.
Similarly, in West Virginia, EPA has found that toxic, cancer-causing chemicals are being released into the air in the Kanawha Valley at one of the highest rates in the country. Communities in the Kanawha Valley, where numerous chemical facilities operate, have reported elevated incidences of respiratory problems and cancers linked to industrial pollution.
As we listened to EPA Administrator Michael Regan announce that the new rule “is a game changer for health, for prosperity, and for children in these communities nationwide,” I was reminded of my own sons. They go to school, walk around the neighborhood, and love to visit playgrounds whenever they can.
The children who attend Fifth Ward Elementary in Reserve, Louisiana, and play in places like River Terrace Park in Harris County, Texas, often face irrevocable impacts simply because they live in neighborhoods dangerously close to plants releasing toxic pollutants. For these children, going to school, walking around the neighborhood, and playing on the playground comes with the risk of exposure to harmful pollution. Their reality underscores the critical importance of these regulatory changes. It is not just about reducing emissions, but about fundamentally altering the future of these communities, offering children in Fifth Ward and River Terrace Park a chance to grow up healthy, unthreatened by the shadow of industrial toxins and air pollution.
This moment represents a profound shift in policy and a step toward environmental justice. The new protections reaffirm the belief that justice is achievable and that proactive measures can and should be taken to safeguard our communities—and that there is still more to do. True change requires ongoing vigilance and commitment from all of us—government agencies, industries, and the very communities that bear the brunt of pollution.
The work ahead involves not only enforcing these new protections but also ensuring they are part of a larger strategy to address the systemic issues of environmental racism and economic inequality that exacerbate health disparities. It involves community engagement, where residents are not merely informed but are included as active participants in decisions affecting their communities.
The path to cleaner air for all is long and filled with challenges, but it is one we now may be more prepared to travel. This Juneteenth, as we celebrate freedom and reflect on the ongoing struggle for justice, I remain hopeful that we can transform these long-fought and hard-won policy changes into tangible, long-lasting improvements in the lives of those affected by toxic air pollutants.
The fight for environmental justice is a critical part of the broader quest for equity and freedom for all. As Administrator Regan said, “Every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air.” So, let us honor the spirit of Juneteenth by continuing to work toward a future where every community, every person, can enjoy that basic right.
Learn more about Moms’ work on petrochemical pollution.
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