By LEONARD GRAY-Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Three of the nine members of the St. John Industrial Group announced increases in toxic releases during 2002, while the remaining six continued to drop toxic emissions, as detailed in a new report.

The Group’s members include Bayou Steel, DPC Enterprises, Degussa Stockhausen, DuPont, DuPont/Dow Elastomers, Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Ondeo Nalco, Pinnacle Polymers and Tomah Reserve.

Most are located in the Reserve/Garyville area. Bayou Steel is located east of LaPlace.

Each year, the St. John Industrial Group reports toxic release inventory data, charting the amount of Environmental Protection Agency-listed chemicals released to the air, water, land and off-site transport by each facility. Since 1987, when the measurement requirements began, emissions have overall continued to drop.

Bayou Steel increased total emissions slightly from 1,456 to 1,681 pounds. Most came from an Increase in air emissions from 16,000 to 18,000 pounds.

Degussa Stockhausen emissions dropped from 4,800 to 4,700 pounds in air emissions with the installation of additional dust collectors. The facility has 74 employees and contractors ranging from 25 to 70 employed.

DuPont’s Pontchartrain Site since 1987 has slashed TRI emissions by 46 percent, from 703,700 to 462,800 pounds. Between 2001 and 2002, air emissions were cut 30 percent, while deep-well Injections decreased by 29 percent, 578,300 to 411,900 pounds, partially caused by a production cut during 2002. DuPont has 157 employees and 81 contractors.

DuPont Dow Elastomers’ total emissions decreased from 566,000 to 469,400 pounds, as off-site transports cut from 84,000 to 28,900 pounds and land emissions cut from 71,000 to 24,500 pounds. Since 1987, total emissions have been slashed by more than 80 percent and injection wells emissions slashed by 95 percent. This facility has 210 employees and 75 contractors.

DPC Enterprises, which has no emissions to land, water or off-site, reported a cut in air emissions from 55,000 to 54,300 pounds, caused by a slight production cut.

Marathon Ashland’s total emissions increased slightly, from 233,000 to 239,000 pounds, due to slight increases in air and water releases, caused by the new coker unit coming on line. Marathon employs 540 people and 250 contractors.

Ondeo Nalco increased total emissions 2 percent from 162,400 to 165,300 pounds, most from a slight increase in water emissions from 30,300 to 34,400 pounds.

Pinnacle Polymers decreased its air emissions from 166,690 to 129,080 pounds.

Tomah Reserve’s air emissions remained approximately the same from 2001 to 2002, both at 1,700 pounds, with annual production decreasing by 6 percent.