Multi-Chem Meeting Scheduled for Tonight
Vermilion Parish residents opposed to a Multi-Chem facility moving into their area plan on speaking at the fire department's monthly meeting tonight.
The group flat out does not want Multi-Chem in their backyard. They say they worry about the effects it could have on their community.Construction is well underway off of Highway 92 near Maurice. Multi-Chem is developing eight of 64 acres purchased in Vermilion Parish for its new plant.
The construction isn't sitting well with some residents. Marcella Manuel with the citizens against Multi-Chem says the group is concerned about property values and what the plant will produce."We have to look at drainage. They have applied for and received a water discharge permit, so water contamination is an issue," said Manuel.
Halliburton released a statement to KATC saying "The facility is not a chemical manufacturing plant but a blending plant. The vast majority of operations will be for blending raw materials, otherwise known as ingredients." This means the chemical blending plant does not include flares and process stacks typically found at a chemical manufacturing plant.
About a year ago the Multi-Chem location in New Iberia exploded causing concern for residents in Vermilion Parish. Halliburton says "While it was a very unfortunate incident and we regret the inconvenience it caused the residents in a one mile radius of the plant, there were no injuries sustained. In addition, more than 875,000 initial and continuous air monitoring samples were taken."
Manuel said, "I don't care how careful you are, you're still in jeopardy if you're around a chemical plant. accidents happen."
The new plant will have 56 acres of green space with a minimum of a 400 foot buffer between the property line and facility operations, but no matter how much green space there is between the plant and other properties Citizens Against Multi-Chem say they will fight this project every step of the way.
"If we can't stop them then we will continue to be their worst nightmare.">
The meeting is tonight and the public forum starts at 7:20 at the Indian Bayou Fire Department. The group hopes both sides will attend this meeting to discuss the plant.
Chris Welty
cwelty@katctv.com
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