Residents of St. James Parish in Louisiana, famously referred to as “Cancer Alley,” are engaged in a fierce legal battle over a controversial new law impacting air quality monitoring. Since 2022, local community groups have employed low-cost air pollution monitors to observe pollution levels in their industrial neighborhood along the Mississippi River. However, a recent law has made it illegal to use such data for pushing stricter pollution controls, mandating that only costly, EPA-compliant monitors be utilized for that purpose.
The penalties for non-compliance can reach thousands of dollars daily, raising concerns within community circles who argue that this infringes upon their constitutional right to free speech. Caitlion Hunter, an advocate from RISE St. James, stated that the law effectively allows polluting industries to “silence the science.” This unprecedented Louisiana law has already prompted similar legislative attempts in Kentucky and West Virginia, indicating a rising trend that further complicates environmental advocacy activities. Meanwhile, state officials remain silent on the controversy.
