Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about a proposed chemical storage and distribution facility during a town hall meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Welsh Community Center, 101 Palmer Street.
The meeting will focus on a request from Solugen Inc. to rezone approximately 10 acres along Oilfield Road from agriculture to heavy industrial. The proposed facility would be used for chemical storage and distribution and would be located in Road District 10 and Fire District 3.
A representative of Solugen recently asked the Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury to postpone formal action on the rezoning request so company engineers and other officials could meet with area residents and answer questions about the project.
Jerry Jones, representing the Houston-based company through a Baton Rouge law firm, told the Police Jury that the company’s engineers were unable to attend an Aug. 12 meeting and that residents had numerous questions about the proposed development.
Jones requested that the public hearing be deferred and that Solugen be allowed to hold a community forum with residents, landowners and Police Jury members.
He said company engineers would be available to explain the project and respond to concerns.
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“We’ll try to answer them as best we can,” Jones said, emphasizing the company’s desire to provide residents with information before the Police Jury takes action. “And hopefully at that point, everybody will have good information to make (final) decisions.”
The Police Jury agreed to defer any action on the zoning decision until its Sept. 9 meeting at 5 p.m., giving Solugen additional time to meet with residents and allowing the required public notice to be issued.
Several residents have raised questions about emergency response, fire protection, traffic and the proposed facility’s proximity to their homes.
Anthony LeBlanc, who lives directly north of the proposed site, raised concerns about the capacity of local volunteer fire departments and the potential effect of additional truck traffic on area roads.”
“The biggest thing I have is like, I’m sure that they have some type of emergency action response plan in place, most chemical plants and refineries have that in place,” LeBlanc said. “But what that entails as far as their procedures and how that works is something I’d like to know.”
LeBlanc also expressed concerns about Solugen’s emergency response plans, including whether the company would have firefighting or chemical-response personnel available at the site in the event of a spill or release.
“With the south wind it (any release) is going to blow right to the house,” he said. “I know our fire departments, with everything that they do, are already overloaded for the amount of area that they have to cover.”
Randall Davidson, who lives less than a mile from the proposed site, is concerned how emergency responders would access the facility, particularly because of concern about a wooden bridge in the area.
“If the emergency can’t get to it from one way, if there’s something burning and the wind is blowing, the emergency can’t get to it that way,” he said. “How are they gonna get to it from the other way?”
Emergency planning should account for more than one route into and out of the facility, he said.
Police Juror Wayne Fruge said traffic from the facility would avoid the wooden bridge by using the I-10 service road and U.S. 90. Additionally he said Solugen has been working with area fire districts on fire protection planning to ensure everything is covered.
Jeff Davis Parish Economic Development Director Cecile Olivier spoke in support of giving the project further consideration. She also provided the Police Jury with a letter supporting the project from the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and outlined potential economic benefits.
“My job as economic development is to help create opportunities for our parish to grow our tax base and create good paying jobs and support our existing businesses and position Jeff Davis Parish to benefice from the tremendous amount of investments taking place throughout Southwest Louisiana,” Olivier said. “But economic development should never come at the expense of health, safety, or welfare of our residents. Responsibility economic degvlopment means pursuing growth, while expecting companies to operate safety, responsibly, and through respect of the communities where they invest. This is why I believe this project deserves serious consideration.”
According to Olivier, Solugen is proposing an initial investment of $5 to $10 million for a storage and distribution facility, serving the oil and natural gas industry. The project is expected to create five permanent operator positions, with salaries averaging about $100,000 annually, along with potential opportunities for local maintenance, security, transportation and other service contractors.
Additionally, Olivier noted the initial project is expected to generate $56,948 annually in property tax revenue which would support public services, infrastructure and contribute to the health, safety and welfare of the parish. Moving the project to the Lacassine Industrial Park, which is state owned, would mean the parish would not receive the same property tax benefit.
“This initial investment could just be the beginning of what could be the future of Jeff Davis Parish and other things that could come here,” Olivier said. “This could be the future of our recreational complex that many residents are so passionate about and want something for our community to do.”
She said every major industry investment creates an ecosystem around it, chemical suppliers, warehouses, logistic company, equipment yard, transportation companies, maintenance contractors and service providers.
Solugen has represented that the proposed facility would incorporate safety measures, including nitrogen storage and containment features, and would be subject to applicable state and federal environmental, safety, storage and emergency-response requirements.
The company has also indicated that the facility would generate an estimated two to four truck trips per day once operational, primarily using Oilfield Road. It has also agreed to pave a section of Oilfield Road.
Tim Calloway, who lives less than a quarter mile from the proposed site, questioned why the parish was interested in the facility and its revenue after denying other development projects including windmills, solar panels and a wedding venue.
“if they are so interested in revenue, then why do you let that go when there’s no chemicals in that, but then you want to come and bring this and tell us it will bring in this much revenue,” Calloway said. “Are we talking about money or are we talking about people? To me it sounds like money. “
Calloway stressed there is a lot unknown about plans for the proposed project and what it will mean to the community.