Tell the Environmental Protection Agency not to let Louisiana gamble our clean energy future: [link removed]

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Dear Friend,

Under the guise of cutting carbon emissions and combatting the climate crisis, the fossil fuel industry is championing carbon capture and storage projects as a lifeline to increase emissions and profits at the expense of frontline communities, taxpayers, and the global climate. The reality is that these projects only prolong the lifeline of fossil fuels and continue to pollute overburdened communities.

One of those types of projects involves injecting highly pressurized carbon dioxide waste deep into the earth, putting our nation’s drinking water at risk. The buildout of these dangerous carbon dioxide waste injection wells is being proposed in Louisiana without adequate safeguards to protect public health and the environment of surrounding communities where these facilities are located — the same communities that have long been overburdened by polluting industries.

Fossil fuel industry-friendly Louisiana could soon be dictating how to regulate (or not regulate) how carbon dioxide waste is injected and stored underneath the state’s soil. We are asking the EPA to deny Louisiana’s request to oversee this carbon waste injection program given the state’s abysmal track record.

With your help, we can ensure that strong safeguards are in place that prioritize environmental justice review and that the federal government maintains oversight over the emerging technology of carbon waste injection wells.

For far too long, the fossil fuel industry has been dumping its pollution in low-income communities and communities of color in Louisiana. Now, the industry is making false promises to those same communities about carbon capture so they can keep polluting. Many frontline leaders have serious concerns over the State of Louisiana’s track record of failing to regulate other polluting industries.

The Environmental Protection Agency has committed to advancing environmental justice for overburdened communities. So, its recent proposal to hand over primary responsibility for the carbon waste injection program under the Safe Drinking Water Act to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, which has not adequately regulated nor enforced its existing injection well programs, is concerning.

Earthjustice is part of a broad coalition of organizations that have come together to ensure that a massive buildout of these carbon storage projects doesn’t cause further harm to the land, water, and communities of Louisiana at the hands of the oil and gas industry. Be part of that movement and send a letter to the EPA to say that there needs to be strong oversight over the rapid buildout of carbon waste injection wells and that rules are implemented to ensure that communities are protected.

We cannot let the Environmental Protection Agency let Louisiana gamble our clean energy future. Let’s tell this administration to protect communities from harmful carbon capture and storage projects.

Sincerely,
James Yskamp
Senior Attorney,
Fossil Fuels Program

TAKE ACTION: [link removed]

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