Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1983-05-06

Duration: 00:11:04

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1983 | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Department of Natural Resources | Environment | HAZARDOUS WASTES | Salt domes | BFI Waste Systems

Contributors:

• George, Beth Host
• Ekings, Robyn Reporter
• Lowenthal, Margaret Speaker
• Simoneaux, Frank Interviewee
• Kember, Soup Interviewee
• Guidry, Purvis Interviewee
• Haik, Ted Interviewee
• Frankland, Peggy Interviewee
• Lowenthal, Margaret Interviewee
• Parker, Pat Interviewee

This segment from the May 6, 1983, episode of “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ report on the increase in the number of bills related to hazardous waste disposal at the 1983 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Ekings interviews Secretary Frank Simoneaux of the Department of Natural Resources, who discusses the public’s increased concern over hazardous waste disposal, the need for a total approach to the problem instead of shutting down individual disposal sites, and the reasons why he thinks Louisiana should not ban the disposal of waste from other states. Ekings also visits Calcasieu Parish, where she talks to Vinton Alderman Purvis Guidry about EMPAK’s desire to store hazardous waste in a salt dome in Vinton. She also meets with three Willow Springs residents, including Peggy Frankland and Pat Parker, who discuss their efforts to close down a hazardous waste site operated by BFI that they believe is leaking and making people sick. Lastly, Ekings also interviews three state legislators, State Representatives Soup Kember, Ted Haik, and Margaret Lowenthal, about their bills aimed at closing down hazardous waste disposal sites. Host: Beth George