By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 24, 1999

NORCO – Nearly 100 people showed up at the “Toxic Tour” start Friday near Shell Chemical to hear local environmental activist Margie Richard declare her opposition to Shell’s alleged treatment of Diamond Subdivision residents.

“We were unfairly treated,” Richard told a group of Sierra Club members visiting Norco. “We deserve to live longer than our ancestors.”Richard added, “I want to enjoy a picnic in my yard without worrying about the chemicals falling in my food. We’re here to ask Shell to actintelligently.”The tour event was held Friday afternoon at Bethune Playground on Washington Street, facing Shell Chemical.

Shell spokesperson Don Baker hosted a press conference Thursday and said he was highly disappointed the event apparently was to present such a negative view of the company’s impact on the community.

Timmons Roberts, a sociology professor at Tulane University, observed that Shell/Norco ranks third in the nation in releasing cancer-causing agents to the air, fifth in the nation for total production-related waste, ninth in the nation in releasing reproductive-toxics to the air, 10th in the nation for suspected cancer-causing agents to the air and 14th in the nation in pounds of waste per unit of production capacity in barrels.

“By almost all the evidence you can find, Shell/Norco plant is failing,” Roberts said.

On the other hand, in a letter delivered to Diamond Subdivision neighbors, Shell Chemical Manager J.L. Kimes and Shell Refinery Manager T. AllenKirkley observed: “Over the past six months, there has been a significant increase in the level of activity and accusations by national and state environmental groups targeting a number of refineries and chemical plants along the Mississippi River. We are among those being falsely accused of causingcancer, reducing property values, noise pollution and reducing the overall quality of life in the community.”The letter pointed out increasing property values in the area and reductions in emissions. Also, programs to improve quality of life includePartners in Education, School-to-Career, United Way and other civic activities.

“We are disappointed that the Sierra Club and other groups have elected to make false and unfounded accusations about our operations without giving us the opportunity to participate in an open and constructive dialogue,” the letter continued.

During Friday’s rally, Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope addressed the group and called on Gov. Mike Foster to stand up to industry, whileholding up a sign showing a man bent over backward, his hands to the floor.

“Nobody ever interviewed for a job in this position,” Pope said, to general laughter.

According to a newsletter released by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Xavier University, the present-day Diamond Subdivision is located on a section of the old Diamond Plantation, first built by Jean Francois Trepagnier and, after the Civil War, owned by Col.

Thomas Sellers.

After Sellers sold the plantation to David Adams, Adams in turn sold it to the New Orleans Refining Co., which lent its name to Norco, in 1916. Shelltook over in 1929.

In 1955, Shell opened the chemical plant known as the West Site, facing Washington Street, displaced old-time residents to Diamond Subdivision and, the newsletter claimed, crippled the local African-American economy.

After the rally, the “Toxic Tour” headed to Pilgrim Baptist Church, Convent, and joined St. James Citizens for Jobs and the Environment forfurther activities, including a press briefing and a panel discussion.

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