Tagged News

• Worker dies after being exposed to hydrofluoric acid at Koura plant, St. Gabriel PD investigating Play Video

  November 19, 2025 2:07 PM

  ST. GABRIEL - A plant worker died following an exposure to hydrofluoric acid at a chemical plant in St. Gabriel, sources confirmed to the WBRZ Investigative Unit. Sources said two workers with burns were taken from the Koura plant to a hospital on Tuesday. One of them died during... more »

• LDEQ puts Atalco refinery on notice for red mud leaks. Fines to be determined.

  October 7, 2025 1:56 PM

  A River Parishes refinery is under heightened scrutiny from state regulators after it unlawfully discharged industrial waste containing arsenic, cadmium, chromium and other toxic heavy metals into public areas and waterways. Atlantic Alumina, also known as Atalco, is facing dozens of environmental violations stemming from breaches that occurred last... more »

• EPA withholds list of chemicals in Smitty's Supply fire, citing 'confidential business information' Play Video

  September 25, 2025 5:23 PM

  Federal officials have not yet made public the list of hazardous materials present at a Tangipahoa Parish petroleum products plant that caught fire and exploded last month, saying that doing so might reveal “confidential business information.” The Environmental Protection Agency, which has led disaster response efforts and all public... more »

• Cleanup costs for Roseland plant explosion up to $39 million; EPA seeking more funds Play Video

  September 18, 2025 7:08 AM

  ROSELAND — Cleanup costs are still mounting after the explosion at a Roseland plant nearly a month ago. According to The Advocate, the Environmental Protection Agency already has $39 million for the work to clean up the August explosion at Smitty's Supply that left the nearby area covered... more »

• Stuck in a smelly situation; neighbors searching for solution to treatment plant Play Video

  September 9, 2025 5:40 PM

  PRAIRIEVILLE - When Frank and Natalie Benedetto built their dream home just outside the city limits of Prairieville, there wasn't much around them. Within a few years, Eagles Landing subdivision completed its filings and more people moved to the area. With that came a sewage treatment facility servicing the neighborhood.... more »

• Ascension Parish plans to clear residents from 17,000-acre area for industrial development Play Video

  August 11, 2025 5:42 PM

  DONALDSONVILLE — Ascension Parish on Monday unveiled a plan to clear residents from 17,000 acres on the west side that have been designated for major industrial development. Parish leaders are looking for a firm that will, through a "transparent, community-centered process," identify who needs to move and determine how... more »

• Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 1 dead and dozens hurt or trapped under rubble Play Video

  August 11, 2025 2:50 PM

  PITTSBURGH (AP) — An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh left one dead and dozens injured or trapped under the rubble Monday, with emergency workers on site trying to rescue victims, officials said. The explosion sent black smoke spiralling into the midday sky in the Monongahela Valley,... more »

• LED: UK-based gas company invests $400 million into ammonia plant in Ascension Parish Play Video

  June 24, 2025 6:27 PM

  DONALSONVILLE — United Kingdom-based natural gas supplier Linde is investing over $400 million to build a new air separation unit at the Blue Point Number One ammonia plant in Ascension Parish, helping to create and maintain jobs statewide. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that the project, part of the joint... more »

• Corporations sign plan for carbon removal projection in Baton Rouge port area Play Video

  April 15, 2025 10:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Two big corporations reached an agreement to begin construction on a carbon removal facility they say would be the largest removal effort in the world. AtmosClear , a company under Fidelis, and Microsoft have signed a contract planning for the removal of 6.75 million metric tons... more »

• Plant identifies employee who died in workplace incident Thursday Play Video

  March 21, 2025 11:22 AM

  GEISMAR - The Nutrien Nitrogen Plant has identified an employee who died on site Thursday morning. Mathew "Mat" Roberts, 46, died after he was found unresponsive on the jobsite Thursday shortly before 8:30 a.m.. The plant said he was a resident of Tangipahoa Parish, a father of two and... more »

• Man dies after being found unresponsive at St. Gabriel chemical plant Play Video

  March 20, 2025 2:18 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — A man died after being found unresponsive at a St. Gabriel chemical plant Thursday morning. St. Gabriel Police said that emergency crews were dispatched to the Nutrien Nitrogen Plant around 8:28 a.m. to find the unresponsive man. He was brought to the hospital in critical condition... more »

• Decades-old meat processing plant at Southern University is getting upgraded Play Video

  February 10, 2025 8:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A meat processing plant that has been on Southern University's campus for more than 40 years thanks to one man's hard work is slated to receive an upgrade. The plant has been operating since 1972 thanks to funds secured by the late Dr. George E. Robinson... more »

• Researcher identifies enslaved people she believes are buried at planned St. James Parish plant

  October 22, 2024 1:44 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A genealogist scoured historical records for years to establish the identities of enslaved people who she believes are buried on the grounds of a planned $9.4 billion plastics facility in southeast Louisiana. The effort is part of a long-running battle by local community groups, often... more »

• Plaquemine area placed on temporary shelter-in-place due to pipeline leak at ExxonMobil plant Play Video

  October 11, 2024 11:08 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - A temporary shelter-in-place order was issued in Plaquemine due to a pipeline leak in an area near Plaquemine High School. The Iberville Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness said the office was notified of the leak just south of the school Friday morning. The Pecan Meadow area was... more »

• St. Helena steel company investing $25 million into improvements on facilities to add 200 new jobs

  October 7, 2024 6:06 PM

  GREENSBURG — A St. Helena steel company said Monday it is investing $25 million into an expansion that would add 200 jobs to the community. Southland Steel Fabricators announced it intends to add 100,000 square feet of production space and acquire cutting-edge welding technology at its original facility in... more »

• 5th Circuit hearing lawsuit over St. James Parish land use plan; did it discriminate against Black people? Play Video

  October 7, 2024 11:40 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appellate court was set to hear oral arguments Monday in a civil rights lawsuit alleging St. James Parish engaged in racist land-use policies to place polluting industries in majority-Black communities. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is reviewing a... more »

• CF Industries employee at Donaldsonville facility dead after being hit by forklift Play Video

  October 2, 2024 4:50 PM

  DONALDSONVILLE — A CF Industries employee at the company's Donaldsonville Complex died Wednesday after being hit by a forklift, officials said. Around 1:45 p.m., the employee was injured. According to a company spokesperson, onsite medical personnel quickly responded. The employee was then airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake... more »

• Plaquemine Dow plant is flaring and will be for a few days; officials say this is normal, site is stable Play Video

  September 20, 2024 10:43 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - Have you seen bright flashes coming from the west side in the last few days? The Dow plant began flaring Thursday morning and will be doing so for a handful of days to come. Officials say flaring is a normal part of plant operations. "The flares... more »

• Plans in the works to modernize nuclear plant alert system in West Feliciana Parish Play Video

  September 3, 2024 4:09 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE — Modernized emergency systems could come to the River Bend Nuclear Station in St. Francisville, and some residents say they’re worried about how the updates will affect the area. West Feliciana Parish President Kenneth Havard says the parish is working with Entergy to create preliminary plans to... more »

• Boars Head plant linked to deadly outbreak broke food safety rules dozens of times, records show

  August 29, 2024 3:15 PM

  JARRATT, Va. (AP) — Boar's Head deli meat plant in Virginia tied to a deadly food poisoning outbreak repeatedly violated federal regulations, including instances of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment, newly released records show. Agriculture Department officials logged... more »

• Koch Methanol St. James hopes to strengthen ties with community after controversial lawsuit win Play Video

  July 16, 2024 7:59 AM

  ST. JAMES - After winning a controversial legal battle over expanding their methanol plant in Saint James Parish, Koch Methanol is hoping to strengthen its ties with the community. Under the $150 million dollar expansion plan, Koch's production of methanol will increase by 25%. Inclusive Louisiana, along with... more »

• 3 go to hospital after apparent chemical leak in East Iberville; source unknown Play Video

  June 17, 2024 6:49 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — Three people needed treatment at a hospital after fumes from a possible chemical leak wafted over portions of eastern Iberville Parish. Two of those affected were older residents and the third was a firefighter dispatched to the scene. Local officials told WBRZ that the source... more »

• Ethylene oxide exposure worse than previously believed in Louisiana, new study shows Play Video

  June 11, 2024 2:40 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Researchers using high-tech air monitoring equipment rolled through an industrialized stretch of southeast Louisiana in mobile labs and found levels of a carcinogen in concentrations as much as 20 times higher than previously estimated, according to a paper published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science &... more »

• Sprinklers not working properly at closed plant, causing red dust to fly Play Video

  May 5, 2022 1:01 PM

  GONZALES - People living in Ascension Parish have had to deal with red dust flying in the air when the wind picks up. It turns out the company responsible for maintaining the area is in violation. As residents continue to move into and build in Pelican Crossing in Gonzales,... more »

• Red dust flying in Gonzales, residents not happy about lack of maintenance Play Video

  March 30, 2022 4:51 PM

  GONZALES - The sky was painted red Wednesday when red dust was kicked up by the strong wind. Homeowners in Pelican Crossing have been contacting 2 On Your Side about it since they're not happy with the company that's supposed to keep it under control. This isn't the first... more »

• Three arrested after wood chipper stolen from Louisiana sawmill

  August 17, 2021 2:03 PM

  ALLEN PARISH - Three people are facing charges after a wood chipper weighing more than 3,700 pounds disappeared from a sawmill. Two of the suspects, 29-year-old Ashley Nolen and 29-year-old Jeffery Nolen, were arrested earlier this month after they sold the machine to a scrapyard, according to the Department... more »

• Massive inferno at Hola Nola Foods facility likely sparked by electrical issue Play Video

  June 15, 2021 7:08 PM

  GEISMAR - A fire at the Hola Nola snack food factory in Ascension Parish was put out for a second time Wednesday after the flames rekindled in the early morning. Firefighters initially responded to the incident at the Hola Nola Foods facility in Geismar around 3 a.m., Tuesday. Video... more »

• Gas leak shuts down N Sherwood Forest Blvd Tuesday morning

  March 30, 2021 11:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A natural gas leak closed part of N Sherwood Forest Boulevard Tuesday morning. The leak was reported around 10:20 a.m. between S Choctaw Drive and Big Bend Avenue. Officials with the Baton Rouge Fire Department said a construction crew severed a gas line. The department... more »

• Halting of Keystone pipeline project will impact jobs in Louisiana Play Video

  January 23, 2021 7:17 PM

  President Biden's decision to put a stop to the Keystone Pipeline decision could affect many jobs in Louisiana. The Biden Administration has already kicked off with several executive orders since Biden became the 46th President of the United States. One of those includes putting a halt to the... more »

• Despite stricter regulations, WBR residents wary of new solar plant Play Video

  January 21, 2021 9:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A proposed solar power plant planned for West Baton Rouge Parish is back on track after a moratorium on solar farms is lifted. Power plants will now be required to secure a special use permit to make sure they follow any special guidelines for the project.... more »

• St. James Parish plant shuts down; local leaders scramble to revitalize faltering economy

  December 12, 2020 7:00 PM

  ST. JAMES PARISH - A year of unprecedented change, and losses, is ending with the shutdown of a Louisiana plant that supplied 700 jobs to area citizens and had an economic impact of over $18,000,000 on St. James Parish in 2017. According to The Advocate , the Shell oil... more »

• Closure of Shell's Convent refinery causing concern for neighboring businesses Play Video

  November 5, 2020 10:12 PM

  ST. JAMES PARISH - Thursday's news that Shell would be shuttering its Convent plant after more than 50 years of operation left employees and business owners shell-shocked. "We just are getting in the door there, with this location, and you know, what a blow," Kyle Smith of Pot &... more »

• Residents call for change following ExxonMobil fire Play Video

  February 19, 2020 11:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Just a mile from the ExxonMobil plant on Scenic Highway, residents packed pews Wednesday night demanding answers eight days after a fire at the facility. Representatives from ExxonMobil, DEQ, and other agencies were on hand as State Senator Cleo Fields led the conversation about how to... more »

• Contractors already unemployed at Georgia-Pacific Play Video

  January 14, 2019 12:05 AM

  BATON ROUGE- When Georgia-Pacific announced layoffs last week, officials said employees would be released in March, but contractors say they have already been let go. A contract worker told WBRZ that he and his fellow employees were shocked when they were told to pack up and leave with no-warning.... more »

• Geismar plant evacuated due to natural gas leak

  January 6, 2019 12:04 AM

  GEISMAR- A plant is being evacuated at the time due to a natural gas leak. Sources tell WBRZ Enterprise Products on 10324 LA-75 in Geismar. Emergency crews are en route. We have reached out to Ascension Parish Sheriff's office. No injuries have been reported at this time.... more »

• St. Gabriel plant monitoring chlorine leak; Not a public safety hazard, officials say

  February 21, 2018 3:53 PM

  ST. GABRIEL – Authorities are monitoring a chlorine gas leak inside a chemical plant in Iberville Parish. The leak was reported after 2 o'clock Wednesday inside the Olin Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls plant on La. 75. Plant employees are monitoring the situation internally, and as of this post,... more »

• Flaring activity at Dow plant in Plaquemine

  March 17, 2017 4:49 PM

  PLAQUEMINE – The Dow plant in Plaquemine has flaring activity taking place on Friday afternoon, officials announced. The issue at the plant that caused the flaring has been resolved and Dow is currently in the process of restarting the plant's production unit. Flaring is the controlled burning of... more »

• Evacuation lifted after Paradis pipeline fire; worker remains hospitalized Play Video

  February 9, 2017 8:56 PM

  PARADIS - An evacuation has been lifted in St. Charles Parish following a fire at the Phillips 66 pipeline near the Williams Discovery Plant on Thursday evening. The pipeline has been blocked and the product in the line continues to burn, as water can not be used to extinguish the... more »

• Three killed in DeRidder mill explosion

  February 8, 2017 1:38 PM

  DERIDDER- Three have been killed in an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America in Beauregard Parish. Seven others were injured as a result. Another person was declared missing following the explosion but was found around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency crews were called to Packaging Corporation of America, on... more »

• WATCH: Crews battle large fire at recycling plant Play Video

  January 23, 2017 11:16 AM

  PRAIRIEVILLE – A fire at Southside Recycling plant in Prairieville closed LA 929 east of Airline Highway for hours on Monday. Heavy smoke could be seen in the area by drivers and nearby businesses. According to Prairieville Fire Chief Mark Stewart, the fire originated from a pile of... more »

• Baton Rouge chemical plant to experience intermittent flaring

  January 13, 2017 1:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The ExxonMobil Baton Rouge chemical plant will experience intermittent flaring over the weekend. A public affairs manager from ExxonMobil says the flares are a result of scheduled maintenance activities over the next couple days. Flares are primarily safety control devices intended to consume excess hydrocarbons during... more »

• Blackwater Road reopened following chlorine leak

  December 22, 2016 4:14 PM

  CHENEYVILLE – Louisiana State Police Hazmat investigators were on the scene of a chlorine leak at a parish water company facility on Thursday afternoon. The facility is located on Blackwater Road, which closed following the lead. The road reopened after 10 p.m. Baton Rouge Fire Department Hazmat and Louisiana... more »

• Federal investigators release final report on 2013 plant explosion

  October 19, 2016 12:45 PM

  GIESMAR – A federal agency says mistakes that led to a deadly 2013 explosion at a Louisiana petrochemical plant revealed a poor "safety culture" at the plant. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board's report, issued Wednesday, says safety management at the Williams Olefins Plant in Geismar has improved. However, it also... more »

• Flares over ExxonMobil result of ongoing maintenance work

  August 2, 2016 5:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Gigantic columns of flame were visible over the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant on Tuesday afternoon as maintenance work continues at the facility. ExxonMobil officials said last week that intermittent flaring would be visible at the plant at the outset of this week while maintenance continues.... more »

• Noranda alumina plant keeps workers; holds off on possible layoffs until May

  March 15, 2016 4:42 PM

  GRAMERCY - The alumina plant here is hoping to stay open by relying on changes to its operation model but Noranda executives said if changes do not work the company could temporarily close the plant in May. Already, Noranda had announced plans to layoff workers this week but the... more »

• Gas exposure sickens two plant workers Wednesday Play Video

  March 2, 2016 10:19 AM

  PORT ALLEN - Workplace hazard investigators are looking into if two injured plant workers may have breathed in the dangerous gas, argon, instead of oxygen, perhaps showing that safety equipment was improperly used Wednesday. The unidentified workers were rushed to area hospitals via ambulance helicopters around 9 a.m. Authorities... more »

• 'Special inspection' underway at River Bend power plant

  February 9, 2016 12:15 AM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced they've begun a special inspection at the River Bend Station nuclear power plant following an unplanned shutdown of the reactor Jan. 9th. According to a press released issued Monday, a lightning strike caused a "momentary surge" at the plant's offsite power... more »

• Crews extinguish fire at pipe facility in Zachary

  February 4, 2016 12:26 AM

  ZACHARY - Firefighters were called to the US Composite Pipe South facility in Zachary just after 10 p.m. Wednesday night. It took the Zachary Fire Department less than 30 minutes to extinguish flames inside the building on Hwy. 61. The cause of the fire, and the extent of... more »

• Nucor to close St. James plant until prices improve Play Video

  December 16, 2015 4:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Steelmaker Nucor announced they will close their St. James Parish plant because of sagging market prices for their products, and not reopen until prices improve. Nucor announced the closure during its fourth quarter earnings report Wednesday. It came alongside news to shareholders that the steel... more »

• Worker dies at fertilizer plant

  December 4, 2015 6:43 PM

  DONALDSONVILLE - CF Industries said a contract worker at their Donaldsonville nitrogen plant died Friday afternoon. Company spokesperson Morris Johnson said they were notified a little after 1 p.m. that the worker was found unconscious in a vessel at a part of the facility which is under construction. ... more »

• Huge zoning issue causes controversy Play Video

  October 12, 2015 10:23 PM

  ST. GABRIEL - A landowner in Iberville Parish has filed an application to rezone nearly 2,000 acres of land now used primarily for agriculture. The landowner is asking to change the property from residential to heavy industrial. The land, located between River Road and La. 30 has the attention... more »

• Company IDs workers killed in plant explosion

  October 9, 2015 11:33 AM

  GIBSON - Company officials identified two workers who died in an explosion Thursday at a natural gas plant in Terrebonne Parish. Officials with Danos said 40-year-old Samuel Brinlee of Berwick and 36-year-old Casey Ordoyne of Larose died in the explosion at the Williams Fields gas plant, according to WWL-TV.... more »

• Update: 3 dead, 2 hurt in plant explosion

  October 8, 2015 1:49 PM

  GIBSON - Authorities said three people died and two others were seriously injured in an explosion at a natural gas plant in Terrebonne Parish Thursday. A representative for the Williams Field Services confirmed the deaths during a press conference Thursday afternoon in Gibson. The plant said contract workers were... more »