While federal law requires publicly disclosed monitoring of major pollutants, fence-line communities in Louisiana have long sought data on their exposure to hazardous and likely carcinogenic chemicals like chloroprene and ethylene oxide, which were not subject to these same regulations.

A coalition of six grassroots environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against a 2024 Louisiana law suppressing community-based air monitoring in the state. The lawsuit calls the law an “industry-friendly ban” that bars groups from using their own independent air monitoring systems to inform residents in “fenceline” communities about potential health risks.

Lawsuit filed against Louisiana air monitoring law alleges first amendment violation