Chemical Maker Launches Suit Against EPA’s Chloroprene Rules

Tougher EPA rules governing carcinogenic air emissions from chemical manufacturing facilities drew a petition for review Thursday.

Denka Performance Elastomer LLC, which owns and operates a Louisiana facility that produces neoprene by utilizing chloroprene, is urging the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to examine more stringent regulations for chloroprene.

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized stricter chloroprene and ethylene oxide emissions rules in April as part of an initiative to end elevated cancer rates in environmental justice communities surrounding the regulated facilities.

The agency estimated a 96% reduction in cancer risk from the rule, which targets ...