Fenceline: A Company Town Divided
March 2003 – 52 mins
A documentary by Log In Productions
Voice Over 01:00:01:00
MAJOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
“Slow and Easy” (Theme Music)
Margie Richard 01:01:03:00
WHEN THAT BLACK SMOKE COME AND MEET WITH THE DARK CLOUDS, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S A CLOUD AND WHAT’S SMOKE. HOW YOU CAN NOT HELP BUT BE IN FEAR. AND THIS IS A FRIGHTENING THING.
Vickie Reneau 01:01:25:13
ACTUALLY, I KIND OF LIKE TO LOOK OUT AT THE PLANT AND SEE ALL THE LIGHTS AND IF THERE’S A FLARE GOING IT BRIGHTENS EVERYTHING. I… I DON’T THINK ANYTHING BAD AT ALL.
THE FLARES ARE REALLY NOT BAD AND PEOPLE DON’T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT. WHEN YOU SEE IT, IT’S PREVENTING A MISHAP THAT COULD HAPPEN.
TITLE 01:01:56:20
Fenceline: A Company Town Divided
TITLE 01:02:03:08
A film by Slawomir Grünberg
TITLE 01:02:07:18
Over 75 years ago, Shell and other oil companies built facilities on former plantations in the Mississippi Delta
Today some residents, in what many call "Cancer Alley" are asking to be relocated while others take pride in their company town
TITLE 01:02:46:09
Sal Digirolamo
Norco Resident
Sal Digirolamo 01:02:31:12
NEW ORLEANS REFINING COMPANY WAS HERE PRIOR TO 1925, I’M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE, AND THAT’S WHAT NORCO STANDS FOR: NEW ORLEANS REFINING COMPANY. WELL, THE ONE THING WE WANTED TO DISPLAY WAS HOW THE COMMUNITY GETS ALONG WITH THE INDUSTRY AND PUTTING THEM SIDE BY SIDE WAS ONE OF THE BETTER WAYS FOR US TO SHOW THAT.
Kenny Reneau 01:02:59:11
...THAT TELLS YOU HOW MANY MINUTES IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOUR HEART TO BEAT A MILLION TIMES. SO THAT'S HOW MANY MINUTES. AND TO GET HOURS YOU DIVIDE SIXTY INTO THAT, RIGHT?
TITLE 01:03:11:07
Vickie Reneau
Norco Resident
Vickie Reneau 01:03:08:01
NOW MY GRANDFATHER WORKED FOR SHELL AND HE AND MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED HERE IN NORCO. AND THEY RAISED SEVEN CHILDREN, WHICH THEY ALL LIVE HERE IN NORCO. ALL BUT ONE OF MY UNCLES RETIRED FROM SHELL.
TITLE 01:03:29:10
Kenny Reneau
Norco Resident
Kenny Reneau 01:03:26:10
I MOVED DOWN HERE IN 1979 TO COME WORK AT THE WATERFORD THREE NUCLEAR PLANT ACROSS THE RIVER... BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING REALLY GOOD MONEY, MAINLY, AND PLUS I WAS GOOD IN THAT FIELD. AND I MET VICKIE, MY WIFE, AT MARDI GRAS AND SHE'D ALREADY BEEN WORKING AT SHELL FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I SAID, WELL LETS MOVE IN TO NORCO BECAUSE THAT WAY SHE'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLANT AND I'M ONLY TWENTY MILES FROM WHERE I WORK.
Cheerleader 01:04:01:29
FIRE UP, READY?
TITLE 01:04:04:02
Middle School, Norco
All Cheerleaders 01:04:04:02
OKAY! FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
EXPLODE, IGNITE, THE NORCO TEAM IS DYNAMITE!
EXPLODE, IGNITE, THE NORCO TEAM IS DYNAMITE!
EXPLODE!
TITLE 01:04:26:22
Margie Richard
Norco Resident
Margie Richard 01:04:30:07
I AM A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER. I GREW UP IN NORCO. IN THE FIFTIES, SHELL BOUGHT OUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUILD THE CHEMICAL PLANT. WE MOVED JUST EAST OF WHERE WE WERE TO THE OLD DIAMOND PLANTATION. OVER THE YEARS, SHELL CHEMICAL PLANT CONTINUED TO EXPAND UNTIL THEY REACHED THE VERY EDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY THE FENCELINE IS ONLY 22 FEET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
(Singing) THIS IS THE DAY, THIS IS THE DAY, THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD HE DID.
TITLE 01:05:16:12
Diamond Community
Norco, Louisiana
Margie Richard 01:05:18:21
THESE ARE THE SURVEY FORMS WE HAVE, FOR THAT RELOCATION THING, TO MAKE SURE THAT SHELL’S NOT GOING TO MOVE ANYBODY FROM HERE AND THEY BE IN DEBT. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE ISSUE: DO NOT WANT TO BE RELOCATED, WANT TO BE RELOCATED BY SHELL AND WISH TO NEGOTIATE WITH SHELL AS A GROUP, WANT TO BE RELOCATED BY SHELL BUT WISH TO NEGOTIATE IT WITH SHELL ON MY OWN.
Bessy Smith 01:05:47:20
THEY SHOULD TALK TO EVERYBODY.
Margie Richard 01:05:46:26
TALK TO US AS A GROUP.
Bessy Smith 01:05:50:00
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
Margie Richard 01:05:50:25
IF YOU WANT TO NEGIOTIATE WITH SHELL AS A GROUP DO YOU AGREE NOT TO START NEGOTIATIONS ON YOUR OWN AND NOT TO SIGN ANYTHING?
Bessy Smith 01:06:00:20
WELL, WE'RE NOT SIGNING ANYTHING.
Margie Richard 01:06:01:10
WE DON'T WANT THAT, YEAH, THERE YOU GO. UH HUH. YEAH.
Bessie Smith 01:06:03:06
WE'RE NOT SIGNING ANYTHING UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
Margie Richard 01:06:07:24
YOU COMING TO THE MEETING TONIGHT?
Bessy Smith 01:06:08:10
OH YEAH.
Margie Richard 01:06:09:12
WELL, I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT. GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU NEED A RIDE.
Bessy Smith 01:06:12:05
ALL RIGHT.
Little Girls 01:06:21:00
MOVE! PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. HAHAHA! PEEK-A-BOO. GOT YA! PEEK-A-BOO.
Margie Richard 01:06:36:08
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO RELAX OR TAKE A NAP BEFORE WE GET THERE YOU CAN PUSH YOUR SEAT BACK. BEFORE WE GO DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL SO YOU CAN GET YOUR TEST, AND YOU’LL BE A CHAMP, RIGHT?
Nurse 01:06:50:18
GREGORY JACKSON! WE’RE GOING IN THE BACK AND GET WEIGHED.
Gregory Jackson
(Inaudible)
Nurse 01:06:56:13
YEAH, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW. WE GOT TO GET YOUR HEIGHT AND YOUR WEIGHT.
TITLE 01:06:57:13
Children's Hospital
New Orleans, 40 miles from Norco
Dr. A. Joanne Gates 01:07:03:00
DEEP BREATH. GOOD JOB. MY GOODNESS, HOW CAN YOU BREATHE? YOUR NOSE IS ALL STUFFED UP.
Gregory Jackson 01:07:11:14
GOT A SORE THROAT.
TITLE 01:07:12:18
G.J.
Margie’s Grandson
Dr. Gates 01:07:13:09
YOU GOT A SORE THROAT? I’M SORRY.
THE VERY FIRST THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT ASTHMA IS AVOID YOUR PROBLEMS. OR AVOID YOUR TRIGGERS, WHAT WE CALL TRIGGERS.
TITLE 01:07:23:08
Dr. A. Joanne Gates
Associate Medical Director, Children's Hospital
Dr. Gates 01:07:23:18
AND HE… IT’S A LITTLE HARD FOR HIM TO DO. HERE WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH SOME ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS. IT’S A LITTLE HARDER TO GET AWAY FROM. THIS SECTION OF THE COUNTRY, THE SOUTHEAST, WE HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF ASTHMA. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA, A LOT OF SCHOOL DAYS MISSED BECAUSE OF ASTHMA. PROBABLY TEN PERCENT OF THE KIDS HAVE ASTHMA, TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT TO FIFTY-PERCENT OF SCHOOL DAYS MISSED ARE BECAUSE OF ASTHMA.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:07:54:22
HEY GREGORY, HOW YOU DOING MAN.
Margie Richard 01:07:55:04
HI. FINE.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:07:56:01
SO YOU REMEMBER THESE TESTS? OKAY, WELL WE’RE GOING TO DO THEM AGAIN TODAY.
Dr. Gates 01:08:00:21
WHEN YOU HAVE ASTHMA, YOU CAN’T BREATHE. IT’S A PRETTY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. YOU WORRY AT SOME LEVEL THAT YOU MIGHT DIE.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:08:12:05
FIRST TEST WE’RE GOING TO DO TODAY IS TO SEE HOW HARD YOU CAN BREATHE IN. SO YOU REMEMBER THE ONE WHERE I TRIED TO STOP YOU FROM BREATHING IN, REMEMBER THAT? OKAY, WELL THAT’S THE ONE WE’RE GOING TO DO FIRST, OKAY?
RIGHT HERE, BIG BREATH IN. BIG, BIG, BIG… AND BLOW ALL THE WAY OUT. BLOW IT OUT. COME ON HARD. BIG FAST BREATH IN! BIG, BIG, BIG.
BLOW… BLOW, COME ON, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, ALL THE WAY OUT, GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT, PUSH OUT, PUSH OUT, PUSH OUT… VERY GOOD AND TAKE YOUR MOUTH OFF.
Sal Digirolamo 01:08:47:00
I KNOW MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN NORCO, CAN’T THINK OF ONE PERSON WHO HAS ASTHMA. NOT ONE. AND I’M THINKING HARD. I’M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DON’T HAVE… I KNOW THEY GOT A FEW CASES, THEY GOT TO HAVE, EVERY COMMUNITY GOT THAT. BUT I DON’T… I’M NOT EVEN SURE THAT THERE’S ANY, ANY, UH, STUDIES OR ANYTHING THAT SAID THOSE TWO GO TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.
AH, MUST HAVE BEEN STANDING UP. HEY, HOW YOU DOING SUGAR?
I’VE LIVED HERE ABOUT SEVENTY YEARS AND I WORKED AT SHELL FOR FORTY YEARS AND RETIRED FROM SHELL FOR FORTY YEARS. LIKE I TOLD MANY A PEOPLE, IF I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WAS UNSAFE, I WOULD SURELY NOT ALLOW MY TWO SONS AND MY SON-IN-LAW TO WORK THERE. I WOULDN’T BE THE TYPE OF PARENT THAT I SHOULD BE IF I ALLOWED THAT TO TAKE PLACE.
Wilma Subra 01:10:09:26
I WORKED FOR A RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR 14 YEARS. WE DID CANCER STUDIES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES.
Wilma Subra (On the phone) 01:10:19:02
THIS IS WILMA MAY I HELP YOU?
Wilma Subra 01:10:20:25
WE DID ALL THE TOXILOGICAL EVALUATIONS OF CHEMICALS AND THE IMPACTS THEY WERE HAVING ON ANIMALS AS WELL AS HUMANS. WE WORKED IN LOVE CANAL BEFORE THE INITIAL CITIZENS WERE EVACUATED.
TITLE 01:10:55:00
Wilma Subra
Chemist and Environmental Consultant
Wilma Subra 01:10:37:12
THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS CANCER ALLEY, WHICH IS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS. THERE ARE OVER 100 INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES LOCATED IN THIS AREA OF THE RIVER. THEY PUT OUT HUGE QUANTITIES OF TOXIC EMMISSIONS INTO THE AIR. THEY DISCHARGE INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND HAVE IMPACTED THE SEDIMENT IN THE RIVER AND THE ORGANISMS; THE FISH AND THE CRABS IN THE RIVER. BUT MOSTLY IT'S THE AIR IMPACTS THAT ARE BEING FELT BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL ALONG THE RIVER CORRIDOR. AND THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE FENCELINE OF THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THIS IS NORCO COMMUNITY. IT WAS A COMPANY TOWN ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE WORKERS TO THE REFINERY. THE AREA THAT'S IN GREEN RIGHT HERE IS THE AFRICAN AMERCIAN COMUNITY KNOWN AS THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY. IT GOES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE RAILROAD TRACK; IT GOES FROM THE SHELL CHEMICAL PLANT TO A ONE BLOCK WIDE TREED AREA. IT WAS ESTABLISHED ON WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE DIAMOND PLANTATION. IT IS 100% AFRICAN AMERICAN. THE PEOPLE IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY HAVE ABOUT A 50% RATE OF FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL. THEY HAVE A VERY POOR ECONOMIC STANDARD AND THEY DESPERATELY WANT TO BE RELOCATED. ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY, ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL, WORKS AT THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THE REST OF NARCO IS 98% WHITE AND THESE PEOPLE EITHER WORK AT THE REFINERY OR ONE OF THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE AREA, OR ARE RETIREED FROM THE SHELL FACILTIIES.
TITLE 01:12:41:05
Diamond residents ask the "Bucket Brigade" to teach them how to take their own air samples
Anne Rolfes 01:12:41:05
HEY THERE, HOW YA... WOW, YOU LOOK SHARP.
Old Man 01:12:45:00
LOOK AT ME.
Anne Rolfes 01:12:45:23
GOD, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
Old Man 01:12:47:00
LOOK AT ME.
Anne Rolfes 01:12:47:10
YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT… YEAH, SIT DOWN.
Denny Larson 01:12:51:09
I’M DENNY LARSON. I’M THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF THE BUCKET BRIGADE PROJECT, WITH COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT. WE’RE AN ORGANIZATION BASED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS FRUSTRATION WITH NOT KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE WERE BREATHING IN PLACES LIKE WHERE YOU’RE LIVING HERE, THIS BUCKET WAS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU COULD FIND OUT WHAT YOU’RE BREATHING, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE COMPANIES AREN’T TAKING SAMPLES, THE AGENCIES AREN’T TAKING SAMPLES YET, THEY WANT TO TELL YOU THERE’S NO PROBLEM. BUT THERE IS NO HEALTH LEVELS SET FOR WHEN YOU BREATHE ALL THOSE TWENTY CHEMICALS AT ONCE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SET A HEALTH LEVEL FOR ONE CHEMICAL AT A TIME. BUT THEY DON’T SET ANY HEALTH LEVEL FOR BREATHING TWENTY, TWENTY-FIVE CHEMICALS AT ONCE. WE’RE GOING TO BUILD A BUCKET FOR YOU HERE TONIGHT AND GET EVEN A COUPLE MORE HERE SO YOU CAN BE TAKING TESTS EVERY TIME THESE GUYS LET OUT. BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT, FOR THE WINDOW. THEN YOU GOT TWO OTHER HOLES. PUSH DOWN, NICE AND STEADY JUST KIND OF SLOW BECAUSE THE DRILL ISN’T THAT POWERFUL. THERE WE GO. THAT BAG IS LIKE YOUR LUNG. IT’S BREATHING IN TOO ONLY IT TAKES ONE BIG LONG BREATH FOR THREE MINUTES, AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO SHUT THE VALVE SO IT’S GONNA HOLD IT’S BREATH. AND WE’RE GONNA SHIP IT ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA. AND WHEN IT GET’S THERE IT’S GOING TO EXHALE INTO A COMPUTER AND THAT COMPUTER HAS FINGERPRINTS IN IT FOR THOSE CRIMINAL CHEMICALS THAT YOU’RE BREATHING. AND WHEN THE GAS IN THERE MATCHES THAT FINGERPRINT FROM THAT BENZENE CRIMINAL CHEMICAL, BINGO. COMES UP POSITIVE ON THE SCREEN. THIS BUCKET STOOD UP TO EVERY TEST THEY GAVE IT. AND AT THE END OF IT, EPA SIGNED OFF ON IT. SO THIS IS EPA APPROVED TECHNOLOGY TO GATHER AN AIR SAMPLE.
David Brignac 01:14:51:45
THERE'S A GROUP CALLED THE BUCKET BRIGADE AND THEY'RE FURNISHED BUCKETS AND THEY CATCH AIR SAMPLES AND THEY SEND THEM OFF SOMEWHERE AND GET THEM ANALYZED.
TITLE 01:14:58:08
David Brignac
Manager, Shell Good Neighbor Initiative
David Brignac 01:15:00:14
SO, I AM FAMILIAR THAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING ON WITH CERTAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ALSO TAKE AIR SAMPLES AND OUR AIR SAMPLES SHOW THAT, WHEN WE ANALYZE THEM, THAT ALL OF OUR EMMISSIONS ARE WITHIN STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS. NOW, THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF TRUST BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS CATCHING THEIR SAMPLES AND THEY’RE SAYING, 'LOOK WHAT WE FIND', WE'RE CATCHING OUR SAMPLES AND SAYING, UH...NO, WE, WE SEE CLEAN AIR HERE IN NORCO. SO HOW DO YOU GET AT THIS IN A WAY THAT BUILDS TRUST?
Wilma Subra 01:15:36:18
FLARING IN THE NORCO COMMUNITY OCCURS ON A WEEKLY IF NOT DAILY BASIS. HUGE QUANTITIES OF CHEMICALS ARE EMITTED THROUGH THE FLARE. THE FLARE IS OFTEN NOT CAPABLE OF BURNING THE CHEMICAL COMPLETELY SO YOU HAVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF THE RESIDUAL CHEMICAL EMITTED INTO THE AIR THROUGH THE FLARE.
TITLE 01:15:58:29
Air emission workshop, Norco
Wilma Subra 01:15:57:07
THIS IS BASED ON SHELL'S REPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S WORK IN COLLECTING THEIR OWN AIR SAMPLES. EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THE UNIT AT SHELL OVERPRESSURIZED. THESE ARE THE CHEMICALS THAT WERE COLLECTED THAT DAY AND THEY ARE ARRANGED IN ORDER OF CONCENTRATION. AND AS YOU SEE THE HIGHEST ONE WE FOUND WAS M.E.K., WAS PRESENT IN 12 PARTS PER BILLION. SO FOR M.E.K., WE HAVE 'IRRITATES NOSE, THROAT, SKIN AND EYES'. HOW MANY OF YOU, THAT DAY, EXPERIENCED THOSE SYMPTOMS?
Audience Member 01:16:33:24
YES.
Audience Member 01:16:35:00
ALL OF US.
Audience Member 01:16:35:25
ALL OF US.
Audience Member 01:16:36:00
THAT'S RIGHT.
Wilma Subra 01:16:36:20
EVERYBODY.
Audience Member 01:16:36:22
ALL OF US.
Wilma Subra 01:16:37:12
LET'S LOOK AT THE SECOND CHEMICAL WE FOUD IN THE SAMPLE. IT WAS TALUININE AND IT CAUSES DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE. THEN YOU HAVE A CANCER ONE. AND WHAT'S THE CANCER ONE? BENZINE.
Audience Member 01:16:48:19
BENZINE.
Wilma Subra 01:16:49:23
...KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN HUMANS, CAUSES LEUKEMIA. THERE WAS BENZINE IN THAT SAMPLE. AND THEN WE HAVE STYRINE THAT CAUSES NERVOUS SYSTEM. METHALINE CHLORIDE—DEVELOPMENTAL.
SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS ARE REALLY LONG TERM. THEY CAUSE REAL SEVERE HEALTH IMPACTS. A LOT OF THEM DON'T OCCUR AT THE REALLY LOW LEVELS, THEY JUST START BIO-ACCUMULATING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU START DEVELOPING ALL THESE BREAKDOWNS IN THE SYSTEM. THE ORGANS START GOING, YOU DEVELOP VARIOUS KINDS OF CANCERS, YOU DEVELOP NEUROLOGICAL IMPACTS. AND YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR AND SAY, 'WELL I HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYTHING NEW.' AND IT’S BUILDING UP IN YOUR SYSTEM, JUST LIKE IT’S BUILDING UP IN THE FISH, AND WHATEVER YOU EAT IN THE FISH, IT BUILDS UP IN YOUR BODY.
David Brignac 01:17:42:17
WE HAVE DONE SOME STUDIES ON OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WHICH INDICATE THAT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WHICH WORK HERE EVERY DAY, IN GENERAL, WE FOUND THAT THEY LIVE LONGER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND, IN GENERAL, THAT THEY'RE HEALTHIER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. SO AT THIS POINT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE'S NO SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT WOULD LINK HEALTH ISSUES WITH LIVING NEXT TO ONE OF OUR FACILITIES.
TITLE 01:18:09:03
Wilma Subra
MacArthur Fellow in Chemistry
Wilma Subra 01:18:09:03
THE RESIDENTS OF NORCO ARE EXPOSED TO A HUNDRED TO A THOUSAND TIMES HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICALS THAN PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS AROUND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. THESE CHEMICALS CAUSE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES, ASTHMA, CANCER, BIRTH DEFECTS, AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER TYPES OF DISEASES AND INCIDENTS TO THEIR HEALTH.
John (Vickie’s Brother) 01:18:38:14
LET’S SEE, THIS IS PLANT DAY 1960.
Vickie Reneau 01:18:40:28
OHHH, LOOK IT'S KIRBY.
Kirby 01:18:43:17
THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.
Vickie 01:18:44:22
MY GOODNESS!
Kenny Reneau 01:18:46:00
THIS A FAMILY THING? SHELL DAY?
John 01:18:47:00
1961.
Vickie 01:18:48:20
THEY USED TO CALL IT PLANT DAY.
Kirby Giroir 01:18:51:00
EVERYBODY, NOT JUST SHELL EMPLOYEES, EVERYBODY WOULD COME. SAINT JOHN'S PARISH...
Kenny 01:18:54:00
AND IT WAS FREE?
Kirby Giroir 01:18:55:00
YEP, EVERYTHING WAS FREE.
TITLE 01:18:58:10
Kirby Giroir
Vickie’s Father
Kirby Giroir 01:18:58:10
I MISS THE PLANT DAY. WHAT I MISS MOSTLY IS THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WE WORKED WITH. I'VE BEEN OVER AT THE PLANT MAYBE TWICE SINCE I'VE RETIRED. I GUESSE THE PLAN WAS TO GET TOGETHER AND MEET EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW. IT WAS NICE.
Margie 01:19:29:20
MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE, MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH-IF IT'S NOT BRONCHIAL DIFFICULTIES-THE VITAL ORGANS DESTROYED AND CANCER. THE BUILDING YOU SEE HERE BELONGS TO NORMAN RICHARD, A BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MINE, WHO GRANDSON DIED, DEVON RICHARD, FROM ASTHMA IN THE NIGHT. EARLINE EUGENE LIVED RIGHT HERE WHICH WAS MY MOM'S SISTER-IN-LAW, SHE DIED OF LIVER CANCER. THE BENZIN CONTRIBUTED TO IT, I'M SURE. MS. ELOISE MACHE LIVED RIGHT HERE SHE DIED OF LIVER CANCER. THE BLUE HOUSE WHERE MILDRED BLUNT LIVED, SHE WAS TOLD SHE HAD SARCARDOSIS. BUT THEY TOLD IT'S GONE AWAY. AND UH...LILY MAY SMITH DIED RIGHT HERE OF CANCER. AND HERE'S MY MOBILE HOME; AFTER DIVORCING I BOUGHT A MOBILE HOME. THIS IS MY LOT AND THAT’S MY MOTHER'S LOT. MY SISTER LIVED HERE IN THIS PEACH AND WHITE HOUSE AND THEN SHE DIED FROM SARCAROCDOSIS. MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MY OLDEST DAUGHTER SUFFERED FROM ASTHMA, AND ALMOST DIED WHEN SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD FROM A COLLAPSED LUNG AS SHE WAS PLAYING OUTSIDE. MY MOTHER, WHO NOW HAS A MACHINE INSIDE FOR WHEN SHE NEED IT. ALMOST EVERYBODY IN TOWN HAVE ALLERGENIC MACHINES IN THE HOUSE.
Sal 01:21:11:29
AL HERE HE, HE'S UH.... HE'S ONE OF THE YOUNGER ONES, I GUESS, HE'S ABOUT 80. 80 YEARS OLD YOU KNOW. WE HAVE, WELL LEN HERE HE JUST RETIRED- HE'S 60. DICK HE JUST RETIRED, HE'S 60 - THOSE ARE YOUNG GUYS. THAT, THAT, THAT PERSON THERE, THEY’RE 80 YEARS OLD. HER HUSBAND DIED AT 82. THIS MAN HERE? HE'S ABOUT 83, 84. I'M SURE WE HAD A FEW OF THEM DIE OF CANCER. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RECENTLY. YOU KNOW, I, I, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW MANY. WE DON'T DIE TOO OFTEN IN NORCO.
Wilma 01:22:05:00
IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WE LACK A GOOD CANCER DATABASE FOR INCIDENTS OF CANCER, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT. ONE, THE DOCTORS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING TO THIS DATABASE ARE FREQUENTLY THE COMPANY DOCTORS, SO THEY DON’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING ON RECORD THAT SHOWS THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE CITIZENS. AND TWO, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF HAVING CANCER WILL GO OUT OF STATE FOR EVALUATION AND TREATMENT. SO THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE.
Margie 01:22:47:00
THIS IS MARGIE CALLING.
Man on Phone 01:22:49:20
YES, MS. MARGIE, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
Margie 01:22:51:00
I JUST GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THEY CLOSED DOWN RIVER ROAD EARLIER.
Man on Phone 01:22:55:00
WE HAD A, WE HAD A FIRE AT ORION.
Margie 01:22:59:20
WHAT TIME WAS THAT?
Man on Phone 01:23:00:00
IT STARTED AT ONE O'CLOCK, ENDED AT THREE THIRTY. THERE WAS NO PRECAUTION GIVEN TO ANY RESIDENCES, BECAUSE THE SMOKE NEVER CAME DOWN TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE PLANT. THEY PUT HOSES ON THE VAPORS AND, UH, IT BURNED UNTIL IT COOLED. BUT THE ACTUAL FIRE WAS VERY, VERY SHORT.
Percy 01:23:39:07
THAT STUFF STINKS!
Margie 01:24:06:14
EVEN THOUGH THE WIND BLOWING I CAN STILL SMELL IT. YEAH, THAT MAKES ME SICK. I CAN'T. I GOTTA GO.
Wilma 01:24:19:16
THE ORION REFINERY, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE SHELL REFINERY, HAD A FIRE AT A SULPHUR UNIT. MARGIE AND PERCY WENT OUT THERE AND COLLECTED A SAMPLE USING THE BUCKET. AT THE TIME THAT THEY WENT OUT THEY WERE COMPLAINING OF IMPACTS TO THEIR HEALTH. WHEN WE GOT BACK THE RESULTS OF THE AIR SAMPLE IT CONTAINED BENZENE, TALUINE, ETHYL BENZENE AND ZALINE. THE BENZINE RESULTS WERE 4.3 PARTS PER BILLION. THE STATE STANDARD IS 3.76.
Margie 01:24:49:00
YOU SMELL IT?
Percy 01:24:50:00
UMM HMM.
Wilma 01:24:51:00
BENZENE IS PROVEN TO CAUSE CANCER IN HUMANS.
Margie 01:24:55:00
NO I SMELL IT NOW A LITTLE BIT.
Percy 01:24:56:23
YEAH.
Wilma 01:24:59:00
IF THERE WASN'T A MECHANISM FOR THE CITIZENS TO COLLECT THEIR OWN SAMPLES DURING THESE TYPES OF EVENTS AND DEMONSTRATE TO THE REGULATORY AGENCIES THAT THE IMPACT WAS CROSSING THE FENCELINE, THE AGENCY WOULD MERELY REVIEW THE INCIDENT REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE COMPANY AND THIS WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER SHEET OF PAPER THAT'S PUT IN A FILE AND FILED AWAY.
TITLE 01:25:28:10
Trepagnier Bayou, Norco
TITLE 01:25:39:29
Milton Cambre
Shell Retiree
Milton 01:25:39:15
FROM THE 20'S WHEN THIS REFINERY WAS BUILT, UP UNTIL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS CAME IN I WOULD SAY IN THE LATE 60'S, ALL OF THE DISCHARGE, YOU KNOW, CAME RIGHT INTO THAT BAYOU. IT WAS NOT TREATED. IT HAS A REAL, YOU KNOW, STRONG ODOR OF, OF HYDROCARBONS. IT'S, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE THE SHEEN ON THE, ON THE OIL. AND THIS IS IT'S 3 TO 5 FOOT, YOU KNOW, THICK ON THE BOTTOM. IT'S, IT'S QUITE A BIT OF IT. SEE HOW BLACK IT IS NOW? WE DIDN'T SEE THE AMOUNTS OF POLLUTION, BUT THE POLLUTION OCCURED FOR OVER 50 YEARS. INDUSTRY WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING, ANYTHING ILLEGAL, IT, IT, IT JUST WAS AN ACCEPTED PRACTISE. IT'S A NICE CLOSE KNIT LITTLE COMMUNITY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I ENJOY, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN NORCO. WE KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE THERE AND WE EITHER GO, YOU KNOW, TO CHURCH WITH, OR ARE FREINDS WITH THEM OR, I WORK WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED IN THIS WHOLE AREA UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY SINCE THE 50'S. THIS IS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT AND THIS ABUTS THE SHELL CHEMICAL. AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY, I THINK THIS HOUSE HERE IS UH ON THE MARKET NOW FOR $277,000. WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WE'VE HAD 3 NEW HOMES BUILT AND THERE'S 3 MORE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
TITLE 01:27:15:20
Armand Matherne
New Home Owner
Armand Matherne, Jr. 01:27:15:10
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I GOT UP TO GO GET THE PAPER AND UH, I WAS WALKING IN THE HOUSE AND I WENT (SNIFF) 'OH! GEE, THAT'S THE SMELL EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT.' AND I WALK IN THE HOUSE 'CAUSE, I HADN'T EVEN NOTICED IT WAS THERE, YOU KNOW. AND I KNOW THE PLANT’S RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN SIT ON MY BACK PORCH AND YOU CAN WATCH THE STEAM AS IT COMES UP FROM THE PLANT. YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE TORCH BURNING FROM MY BACK PORCH AND YOU CAN HEAR THE TRAIN GOING BY, BUT IT'S NO BIG DEAL. I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN LIVE AND I GUESS IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE, BUT I COULD FIND A LOT WORSE NEIGHBORS THAN A REFINERY, I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH. I WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THAT ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD, AND THE 5 YEAR OLD, AND THE 3 YEAR OLD. I WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THEM OUT HERE IF I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SAFE.
Dave 01:28:05:10
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? I'M DAVE.
Wilma 01:28:09:20
HI, I'M WILMA SUBRA, TROUBLEMAKER.
Both 01:28:12:00
(laughing)
TITLE 01:28:13:00
Shell calls a public meeting for Norco residents
Wilma 01:28:14:00
OK, THANKS. PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MOVE IN THOSE HOUSES, BUT HAVEN'T LIVED IN NORCO, IT'D BE REALLY GREAT TO GET A BLOOD TEST ON THEM, BEFORE THEY MOVE INTO THEIR NEW EXPENSIVE HOUSES AND THEN THEY MOVE IN NEXT TO SHELL CHEMICAL AND START BEING EXPOSED TO WHATEVER YOU'RE PUTTING OUT OVER ACROSS THE FENCELINE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF LEVELS. I MEAN, YOU GOT A PERFECT CASE FOR OR AGAINST RIGHT THERE, CAUSE YOU GOT PEOPLE MOVING IN THERE.
Dave 01:28:46:20
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD ALARM THEM? TO DO THAT?
Wilma 01:28:50:00
ALARM WHO?
Dave 01:28:50:20
WELL, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TESTED.
Wilma 01:28:53:14
(sigh) WELL, LET'S, LIKE I JUST TOLD HIM, WAIT. YOU CAN EITHER DO IT AND BE UPFRONT OR YOU CAN HAVE A.T.S.D.R. COME IN AND KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR IN TYVEK SUITS. THERE'S NEVER AN EASY WAY OF DOING IT, YOU KNOW.
Dave 01:29:08:00
YEAH
Wilma 01:29:09:00
AND YOU KNOW, AT ALL THE MEETINGS THE INTERESTING THINGS ARE THE WHITE COMMUNITY AND 3/4 OF THE COMMUNITY IS GOING, LIKE, 'THE FACILITY DOESN'T IMPACT US.' AND THE PEOPLE IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY ARE GOING LIKE, 'THE FACILITY IMPACTS US.' YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU ALL PUT UP SOME AIR MONITORS LIKE WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHEMICALS IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY, IT DOESN'T JUST STOP THERE. AND SO, IS IT GOING TO ALARM THE WHITE COMMUNITY? THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. IT'S BETTER TO KNOW NOW THAN AFTER.
Dave 01:29:40:27
YEAH?
Rob 01:29:46:20
ALRIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START. MY NAME IS ROB QUENE AND I WORK AT THE SHELL OIL COMPANY. TONIGHT'S MEETING IS ABOUT OUR PLANS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS THE E.P.A ISSUED LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER. IT’S A RULE THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS FROM OUR TWO ON SITE HAZARDOUS WASTE COMBUSTION UNITS, HERE AT THE WEST SITE.
THAT'S ABOUT HOW MUCH WE EMIT. WE'RE GONNA DROP THAT DOWN...
Barbara 01:30:11:00
AND HOW ABOUT...WHAT'S THE REGULATION?
Rob 01:30:12:00
THE REGULATION WILL TAKE US DOWN ABOUT 98%.
Barbara 01:30:14:10
I MEAN WHAT'S THE REGULATION, NOW.
Rob 01:30:16:20
THE REGULATION NOW...
Barbara 01:30:17:20
YOU SAY YOU DON'T MEET IT, SO WHAT, YOU ADMIT TO THIS SO, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT IS THE REGULATION?
Rob 01:30:23:00
THE REGULATION SAYS BRING THE EMISSION OF DIOXAN PURANS, HANG IN THERE WITH ME, DOWN TO POINT TWO NANNOGRAMS PER DRY STANDARD CUBIC METER CORRECTED TO SEVEN PERCENT OXYGEN.
Margie 01:30:35:20
WOULDN'T SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO'S ON THE FENCE LINE NEED TO BE AWAY WHEN YOU CAN'T CORRECT EPISODIC RELEASE PLUS THIS ALL AT ONE TIME?
Erica Jackson 01:31:01:20
BREATHE. MAKE IT DISSAPPEAR.
Margie Richard 01:31:05:00
DRAW IN AGAIN. DEEP. DEEP. BLOW OUT.
IN… OUT… IT’S ALMOST OVER.
Erica Jackson 01:31:27:00
SUCK IT IN.
ALRIGHT, HERE. GREGORY.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU LAST YEAR? REMEMBER WHEN MOMMY TOLD YOU THAT THE DOCTOR SAID THAT HE COULDN’T HELP YOU ANYMORE?
TITLE 01:31:38:07
Erica Jackson
Margie's Daughter
Gregory Jackson 01:31:38:01
YEAH.
Erica Jackson 01:31:38:19
AND THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DO WHAT?
Gregory Jackson 01:31:40:10
DIE.
Erica Jackson 01:31:40:20
THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE RIGHT? AND WHAT HAPPENED?
Gregory Jackson 01:31:43:20
I SURVIVE.
Margie 01:31:52:25
YOU ALL BETTER PUT ON MASKS ON, COMIN' OUT HERE DERRICK. EVERY KID THAT COMES OUT HERE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE INHALING CHEMICALS. THAT'S WHAT KILLED MY SISTER. THIS WAS BETHUNE, MERRIMACK LIYARD BETHUNE HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS A SCHOOL HERE THAT WENT FROM FIRST TO TWELTH GRADE. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WAS HELD RIGHT ON THIS SPOT WHERE I'M STANDING BECAUSE IT WAS THE GYM AND I CAN REMEMBER GROWING UP HERE, PLAYING AT RECESS. WE NEVER GAVE IT ANY THOUGHT THAT THE PLANT WAS PUTTING OUT POLLUTION AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, AS MANY OF US GOT OLDER AND ESPECIALLY NOW AND WE THINK BACK, WE REALIZE THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THIS SCHOOL SUFFER FROM SOME TYPE OF BRONCHIAL DISEASES, SOME TYPE OF RESPITORY ORGANS THAT ARE DETERIORATING. AND MY SISTER WHO HAD SARCARODOSIS, HER LUNGS WERE TOTALLY DETERIORATED BY THE TIME SHE MADE 53. AND NOW IT'S A PLAYGROUND.
Grace Giroir 01:33:26:00
THIS IS GRANNY AND THIS IS MY SISTERS AND A FRIEND. WE WERE ON THE SPILLWAY BRIDGE...
Erin Rook 01:33:31:00
MMM HMM...
Grace Giroir 01:33:31:20
AND THE ARMY TRUCKS WOULD PASS BY AND SOLDIERS WOULD STOP AND WE'D TALK TO THEM, YOU KNOW AND...
Erin 01:33:36:25
MMMM, HMMM, HMMM, HMMM.
Grace 01:33:38:00
THERE THEY ARE AGAIN, YOU SEE THE ARMY TRUCKS?
Erin 01:33:40:07
WHAT DO YOU ALL GOT ON? WHAT'S THEM BOOTS?
Grace 01:33:43:15
THEY ALL GREW UP HERE IN NORCO.
Erin 01:33:46:00
THAT WAS NANNIE ROSE'S WEDDING?
Vickie 01:33:47:25
NANNIE ROSE'S, YEP. I WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD, A YEAR OLD?
Grace 01:33:53:10
MAYBE 1929, I'VE LIVED ALL MY LIFE HERE IN NORCO AND WHEN WE GREW UP, WE HAD, SHELL SUPPLIED US WITH A SWIMMING POOL AND WE WENT TO BASEBALL GAMES...
Kirby Giroir 01:34:08:05
...A GYM
Grace 01:34:09:00
WE WENT TO MOVIES. THIS IS A PIN THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOUR GRAND, OR YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER AFTER 1O YEARS OF SERVICE WITH SHELL AND THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM IN 1941. AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE COMPANY, THEY GIVE YOU THE EMERALD STONE ON THIS LITTLE SHELL EMBLEM. WE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD LIFE WITH SHELL. MY FATHER RETIRED, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY RETIRED FROM THERE. KIRBY RETIRED AND WE RAISED FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, LIVING HERE IN NORCO.
Kirby 01:34:48:24
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR.
Grace 01:34:52:19
THEY ALWAYS TREATED HIM WELL, AND HE DID HIS WORK AND THEY APPRECIATED WHAT HE DID. HE'S GOT GOOD MEMORIES.
TITLE 01:35:14:15
Shell announces a buyout offer for two of the four streets in the Diamond Community and two streets in the predominantly white community of Norco
Margie Richard 01:35:25:18
IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE ACQUISITIONS OF REMAINING PROPERTIES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER FIRST, 2000, SHELL AND MOTIVA ARE OFFERING INCENTIVE TO FENCE LINE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WISH TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY. THIS OFFER IS AVAILABLE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, HAVING TITLES TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND VACANT LOTS ALONG WASHINGTON AND CATHY STREETS AND THE EAST SIDE OF NORCO AND GOOD HOPE STREETS IN NORCO. THAT'S TWO STREETS IN THE PREDOMINENTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD. ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS YOUR PROPERTY IS OR MAY BE LOCATED IN THE PROGRAM AREA.
Television Announcer (On TV) 01:36:10:05
THIS IS FOX 8 NEWS
Nancy, News Anchorperson (On TV) 01:36:12:15
GOOD EVENING. NEIGHBORS SAY IT MAKES THEM SICK, SHELL SAYS THE AIR QUALITY AROUND IT'S NORCO REFINERY IS SAFE.
Percy Hollins 01:36:18:02
HOW CAN IT BE SAFE?
Margie Richard 01:36:22:25
THEY DON'T LIVE HERE
Nancy, News Anchorperson (On TV) 01:36:18:12
NOW ONE EASY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS FOR SHELL TO BUY OUT IT'S NEIGHBORS. AS ANDREW LUCAS TELLS US, EVEN THAT HASN'T BEEN AN EASY PROCESS.
Andrew Lucas (On TV) 01:36:26:12
LAST WEEK NEIGHBORS THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD A DEADLINE FOR A NEW PLAN TO BUY UP THEIR HOMES.
THE COMPANY SAYS THEY MET THE DEADLINE AND RESOLUTION IS NEAR, RESIDENTS ARE STILL SKEPTICAL.
Don Baker (On TV) 01:36:35:25
WE HAVE SOME PLANS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS RIGHT NOW.
Margie 01:36:38:06
THERE HE IS.
Andrew (On TV) 01:36:38:16
DON BAKER IS WITH SHELL. HE SAYS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THE COMPANY WILL HAVE A NEW PROPOSAL TO BUY HOMES AT A MARKET PRICE.
Nancy (On TV) 01:36:46:03
THE RESIDENTS ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT AREAS, THAT THEY WANT TO PAY FOR, IS THAT RIGHT?
Andrew (On TV) 01:36:49:12
THAT, THAT IS ANOTHER DISPUTE. IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY THERE'S ABOUT 4 STREETS, THAT RESIDENTS WERE HOPING THAT NORCO WOULD BUY ALL THOSE STREETS, SHELL SAYS THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BUY 2 OF THOSE STREETS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING.
Percy 01:37:00:20
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES AT 127 DIAMOND; I LIVE AT 218 CATHY. I WOULDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND LEAVE HER HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO STAY UNTIL THEY GIVE A COMMITTMENT TO BUY THE OTHER 2 STREETS. SIMPLY BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER IN LAW.
Margie 01:37:17:29
ONE THING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2 STREETS HAS DONE TO THE OTHER PEOPLE, THEY'VE LOST HOPE...
Percy 01:37:22:15
YES, RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT.
Margie 01:37:24:15
...BECAUSE SOME OF THEM SAYS, WHAT'S THE USE, THEY SAY WE CAN'T FIGHT SHELL, THEY'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO LEAVE US HERE.
Percy 01:37:34:17
IF THEY MOVE ME OUT AND MOVE YOU OUT AND, NO ONE WILL BE HERE TO CONTINUE MAKING NOISE ABOUT THE SITUATION.
David Brignac 01:37:47:18
WE HAVE NO INTENTIONS TO DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY. NOW, IF YOU WOULD BUY THE FOUR STREETS OF DIAMOND, WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO OFFER AN EQUIVALENT FOOTAGE OR AMOUNT OF PROPERTY ON OUR EAST SITE FENCELINE. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU’RE GETTING INTO A MASSIVE PROGRAM. MOVING, PERHAPS, A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, LITERALLY. AND THEN, YOU HAVE THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND WE DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AT ALL.
TITLE 01:38:17:10
The Diamond Community meets to discuss Shell's buyout offer
TITLE 01:38:36:29
Monique Harden
Attorney, Earthjustice
Monique Harden 01:38:34:25
WE, WE, WE SEE THAT THE ONLY REASON WHY SHELL HAS COME THIS FAR IN SAYING 'WE WILL OFFER RELOCATION' IS BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED SO WE KNOW THAT’S OUR POWER AND OUR STRENGTH, WE CAN’T LET THAT GO. AND WHEN WE BEGIN ACTING LIKE INDIVIDUALS THINKING IT’S JUST ME AND MYSELF AND NOBODY ELSE, SHELL WINS. IN THAT BUYOUT, SHELL WILL HAVE ITS LAWYERS AND ITS REAL ESTATE EXPERTS AND YOU WILL BE ALONE BY YOURSELF TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL. WHAT CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NORCO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IS RELOCATION, A JUST AND FAIR RELOCATION. WHAT SHELL IS SAYING IS WE WANT TO BUY YOUR PROPERTY. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. THE REASON WHY YOU WANT A JUST AND FAIR RELOCATION IS BECAUSE YOU’RE BEEN DAMAGED, YOU’VE BEEN HARMED. YOU’VE SEEN THE SOOT COVERING YOUR CARS, YOUR ROOFTOPS, YOU’VE BEEN SMELLING THOSE BAD ODORS, YOU’VE BEEN RUSHING YOUR CHILDREN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. SO A RELOCATION IS ONE THAT MAKES YOU WHOLE AGAIN, ONE THAT RESTORES YOU TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU ALL DESERVE. A BUYOUT ONLY GIVES YOU A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR YOUR PROPERTY AND SAYS GOODBYE.
Emelda West 01:39:37:02
DON’T ACCEPT A BUYOUT. PLEASE DON’T ACCEPT A BUYOUT. DON’T LET NOBODY COME AND OFFER YOU A FEW DOLLARS AND TELLING YOU, MAKING YOU BELIEVE THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH NOW WHEN THEY’VE BEEN KILLING YOU FOR THE PAST FORTY OR FIFTY YEARS.
TITLE 01:39:47:22
Emelda West, local activist
Emelda West 01:39:58:08
THANK YOU.
TITLE 01:40:15:24
Communities for a Better Environment press conference
Group Singing 01:40:00:29
NO MORE DYING THERE, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING.
OH, THEY’LL BE NO MORE DYING THERE; WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING. HALLELUIA, HALLELUIA, WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING.
TITLE 01:40:31:28
Anne Rolfes, Communities for a Better Environment
Anne Rolfes 01:40:22:22
THESE ARE FOUR SMALL STREETS OF HOUSES. I DON’T THINK IT’S UNREASONABLE TO ASK A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY TO BUY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CONTINUALLY SAY “FAIR MARKET VALUE.” AND THEY SAY SORRY YOUR HOUSE ISN’T WORTH A LOT. BUT, GOSH, I WONDER WHY IT’S NOT WORTH A LOT, LOOK WHAT’S NEXT DOOR.
Dr. Beverly Wright 01:40:40:29
AS BAD AS THINGS MAY LOOK, THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME THAT I’VE SEEN IN NORCO IN THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SHELL TALKING ABOUT RELOCATION. OUR FIGHT IS TO GET RELOCATION ON THE TERMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET IT… COULD SOMEBODY TELL ME IF THAT’S A WARNING…? SHOULD WE ALL BE RUNNING OR WHAT…
(Loud Siren + Horn)
Margie 01:41:05:12
WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY. AND IF YOU’RE SLEEPING YOU JUMP.
Dr. Wright 01:41:10:00
I’M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
Margie 01:41:12:00
THAT’S THE LUNCH WHISTLE.
TITLE 01:41:14:03
Dr. Beverly Wright
Director, Center for Environmental Justice
Dr. Wright 01:41:12:23
WE DID A HEALTH SURVEY IN THIS COMMUNITY ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A SELF-REPORTED HEALTH SURVEY WHICH MEANS THAT WE ASKED PEOPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND THEY TOLD US WHAT WAS AILING THEM. AND THE RESPONSES WERE ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING. APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ASTHMA. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT ASTHMA RATE FOR CHILDREN. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
Margie 01:41:41:09
OUR PARENTS MOVED TO THIS SECTION, NOT VERY FAR. NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE PLACED IN AN AREA THAT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENDED BY THE GROWTH OF AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT WAS PRODUCING AND MANUFACTURING POISONOUS GASES, POISONOUS SUBSTANCES THAT WERE GOING INTO THE AIR.
TWELVE-THIRTY AT NIGHT IT COMES OUT. SIX-THIRTY IN THE MORNING, IT’S IN THE AIR. IN THE EVENING, IT’S IN THE AIR.
WE’RE NOT STANDING UP TO DIVIDE; WE’RE STANDING UP TO UNITE. THANK YOU.
Denny 01:42:24:32
THANK YOU MARGIE.
Vickie Reneau 01:42:28:07
DADDY, COME ON, THE NEWS IS ON. COME ON, SIT DOWN, THE NEWS IS ON.
Grace Giroir 01:42:34:00
KIRBY, COME WATCH THE NEWS.
News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:36:03
…ABC 26’S CURTS BRYANT REPORTING LIVE, IN FOR MAY…
(News theme music on TV)
Second News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:44:19
HEAR WHY SOME NORCO NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING NO TO SHELL’S BUYOUT PLAN.
Kenny Reneau 01:42:47:08
FOR WHAT? WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE THEY MARCHING FOR?
Vickie 01:42:49:25
IN PROTEST… AS USUAL…
News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:55:00
TONIGHT, SOME NORCO NEIGHBORS SAY ‘NO FAIR’ TO SHELL’S LATEST PLAN TO BUY THEIR HOMES. SHELL SAYS THE PLAN IS NOTHING NEW, IT’S PART OF ITS GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. ABC 26’S DAWN OSTRUM REPORTS NEIGHBORS WANT SHELL TO RELOCATE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Dawn Ostrum (on TV) 01:43:10:03
DELORIS BROWN GREW UP IN THIS NORCO NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE TODAY SHE’S MARCHING, FIGHTING FOR SHELL CHEMICAL TO BUY HER ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD…
Vickie 01:43:16:17
I GUESS THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE WHO WE DON’T KNOW.
Kenny 01:43:18:14
SHHH. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE DEAL IS.
Dawn Ostrum (on TV) 01:43:18:12
…THE MARCH ENDED IN PRAYER ON THIS LOT WHERE IN 1973 TWO PEOPLE DIED FROM AN EXPLOSION. NEIGHBORS HERE IN DIAMOND SAY SHELL’S PLAN DIVIDES THEIR COMMUNITY, SEPARATES FAMILIES. SHELL SAYS THEIR PLAN ISN’T ABOUT DIVIDING AT ALL. THEY SAY IT’S ABOUT ALL OF NORCO MAKING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. SHELL SAYS IT WANTS PART OF DIAMOND AND PARTS OF NORCO…
Erin Rook 01:43:39:07
BUT ANYWAY, THEY’VE BEEN IN HERE FOR SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AND WHY DID THESE PEOPLE MOVE IN?
Vickie 01:43:35:21
THEY USED TO LIVE WHERE SHELL CHEMICAL IS NOW SITTING.
Kenny 01:43:49:00
SHELL BOUGHT THEM OUT AND BOUGHT THEM SOME STUFF OVER HERE.
Vickie 01:43:51:00
SHELL BOUGHT THEM OUT AND THEY BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
Dawn (on TV) 01:43:56:07
…THE COMPANY SAYS WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO STAY ANOTHER 75 YEARS. NEIGHBORS SAY THEY’RE SKEPTICAL.
Deloris Brown (on TV) 01:44:03:15
JUST SIT IT OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. GOD KNOWS BEST.
Kenny 01:44:07:09
SO THEY’RE GOING TO SIT IT OUT, HUH.
Dawn (on TV) 01:44:08:05
…IN NORCO, DAWN OSTRUM ABC 26 NEWS…
Vickie 01:44:08:30
THEY WANT ALL FOUR STREETS BOUGHT, NOT JUST TWO. THAT’S THE WHOLE BOTTOM LINE.
Kenny 01:44:11:15
SO THE BEEF IS THEY WANT FOUR STREETS BOUGHT AND SHELL JUST WANTS TO PUT A GREEN SPACE IN THE TWO STREETS. YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE A BEEF IF I’M LIVING ON THIS STREET AND MY MAMA’S LIVING ON FOUR STREETS OVER AND I CAN RELOCATE BUT SHE’S GOING TO HAVE HER HOUSE. YOU KNOW, THAT’S SORT OF A BEEF.
Vickie 01:44:28:01
WELL THAT’S SOME OF THE THINGS THEY’RE SAYING TOO THAT THEIR MOTHERS MAY HAVE TO MOVE AND THEY WON’T OR THEY HAVE TO MOVE AND THEIR MOTHERS WON’T AND THEY’RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PARENTS.
Sal Digirolamo 01:44:43:14
ONE THING I DONT LIKE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BEING DONE ON PURPOSE, IS THE TOWN OF NORCO BEING PULLED IN WITH A FENCELINE PROBLEM. THAT THEY THINK IT'S A PROBLEM. MARGIE, MARGIE IS A LEADER. IF SHE BELIEVES IN WHAT SHE'S DOING SHE'S GONNA FIGHT HARD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM. HER AND I GET ALONG PRETTY GOOD. I STAND FOR WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT, SHE STANDS FOR WHAT SHE THINKS IS RIGHT. I DONT ALWAYS, VERY SELDOM WE AGREE ON SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
Margie Richard 01:45:22:26
THE ORGANIZATION CORPORATE WATCH HEARD ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES AND INVITED ME TO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN HOLLAND. SINCE THE TOP MANAGERS OF SHELL WERE GOING TO SPEAK AT THE CONFERENCE, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS.
Margie 01:45:47:18
OH MY GOD, BUT LOOK AT IT.
Percy 01:45:54:09
THAT IS SOME NOISE TO BE LISTENING TO EVERY DAY.
Margie 01:45:56:13
THAT’S WHY WE TELL THEM. IT’S NOT JUST THE ODORS IT’S THE NOISE TOO.
Percy 01:46:03:09
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS SAMPLE HERE?
Margie 01:46:05:22
I’M GOING TO DEMONSTRATE IN HOLLAND AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING IN ORDER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR OURSELVES TO GET CLEANER AIR. I WANT TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE PERSON WHO IS ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE DUTCH ROYAL COMPANY THAT BUILT IN OUR GOOD TOWN WHICH HAS NOW BEEN DESTROYED.
(Music)
Airplane Announcement 01:46:38:27
WE INVITE YOU NOW TO PLEASE SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY OUR SIX HOUR AND SIXTEEN MINUTE FLIGHT EN ROUTE TO AMSTERDAM.
(Music)
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:47:21:01
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE C.E.M. EXECUTIVE BOARD ACTUALLY SETTLES ON A WAY TO CALCULATE BASELINE.
TITLE 01:47:27:11
Shell Presentation
UN conference on Climate Change
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:47:27:11
FOR EXAMPLE, USING A BENCHMARKING APPROACH IN THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR. WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THEM BUT AT LEAST WE…
Woman 01:47:36:22
CAN WE MAKE A QUESTION PLEASE?
Moderator 01:47:38:01
THERE WAS TWO, TWO PEOPLE HANGING FROM LAST TIME. SORRY, IS THIS A QUESTION?
Margie Richard 01:47:43:06
YES, IT IS A QUESTION. I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE TRUE TO WHAT YOU SAY ON PAPER. I AM A COMMUNITY PERSON. AND NOT JUST IN NORCO, LOUSIANA. ARE YOU GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE? NOW I KNOW THIS LOOKS STRANGE BUT THIS IS THE BAG THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A SAMPLE OF THE AIR THAT’S BEEN TRAPPED.
Moderator 01:48:06:17
SORRY, YOU SAID YOU’D ASK A QUESTION…
Margie 01:48:08:14
MY QUESTION IS… I CAN TALK… MY QUEST… BE QUIET… MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO BE TRUE TO WHAT YOU SAY ON PAPER ABOUT CLEANER AIR AND BEING FAIR AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR? I’M SPEAKING TO SHELL BECAUSE I LIVE SEVENTEEN FEET AWAY FROM THE FENCELINE. AND I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. IT’S A PATTERN; THIS IS THE WATER…
Moderator 01:48:31:25
FIRST OF ALL, LET HIM ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THEN YOU CAN EXCHANGE GIFTS.
Margie 01:48:34:13
YES, SIR, SURE.
Moderator 01:48:36:09
ROBERT…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:48:37:28
I KNOW THAT THERE IS ISSUES AROUND THE NORCO REFINERY. I KNOW THERE IS ISSUES ELSEWHERE. WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE BUT AT THIS FORUM I’M JUST NOT CAPABLE OF ANSWERING ANY OF THE DETAILED QUESTIONS. BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE’LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU; WE’LL BE WORKING ON IT.
Margie 01:48:53:10
YES, BECAUSE I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE FOR THIS AND IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I’D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A GIFT OF THE AIR AND…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:48:59:29
CAN I BREATHE IT?
Margie 01:49:01:09
I WOULDN’T TAKE THE CHANCE. WE’RE BREATHING IT EVERY DAY.
Margie 01:49:07:01
…THIS IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME. THE STRUGGLE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWELVE YEARS. AND I AM PRESIDENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NORCO AND WE ASK…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:21:11
RIGHT. ARE YOU MARGIE RICHARDS?
Margie 01:49:22:17
YES.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:23:04
OKAY.
Margie 01:49:23:13
SO, MY BIGGEST DREAM AND HOPE FOR COMING HERE IS TO SEE THE TOP PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY OF THE ROYAL DUTCH OWNERS.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:34:09
RIGHT.
Margie 01:49:35:01
WITH THE HOPES THAT THEY WOULD HEAR OUR CRY.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:37:28
THE RIGHT PEOPLE AREN’T HERE. SO I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER IF YOU’D GET IN TOUCH WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
Margie 01:49:42:10
WELL, WHO ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE?
TITLE 1:49:51:03
Nine months later
TITLE 01:49:54:06
Mardi Gras Parade
LaPlace, Louisiana
Margie Richard 01:49:57:24
THE TRIP TO HOLLAND DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FROM THE HEADQUARTERS IN HOLLAND, THE MESSAGE WAS SENT TO THE LOCAL CHEMICAL PLANT IN NORCO. LATER ON, A FIELD PERSON FROM HOLLAND DID COME DOWN TO NORCO TO DISCUSS AND LOOK INTO OUR ISSUE. THEN THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION WAS OPEN AND BECAME BETTER WITH THE LOCAL PLANT.
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PACKAGE PROGRAM WAS UPGRADED AND, TODAY, THE PEOPLE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO RELOCATE WITHOUT GOING INTO DEBT OR GOING UNDER.
THE STRUGGLE AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, FOR ME, WILL NEVER END. WE’RE NOT WE SHOULD BE BUT WE’RE NOT WHERE WE WERE IN THE PAST.
TITLE 01:51:03:18
Diamond Community, July 2002
TITLE 01:51:22:29
In June 2002, Shell extended its offer to include all four streets of the Diamond Community and reached an agreement with the Concerned Citizens of Norco.
TITLE 01:51:31:12
Shell maintains that Norco is a good place to live.
CREDITS 01:51:37:17
Produced by
Slawomir Grünberg
&
Jane Greenberg
Directed by
Slawomir Grünberg
Editor
Brian Truglio
Photography
Slawomir Grünberg
Sound Brian Truglio
Associate Producer
Brain Truglio
Assistant Editor
William Doll
Additional Sound
Jane Greenberg
Post Production Associate
William Doll
Website Coordinator
Jason Brantman
Still Photography
Thom Scott
Interns
Antonio Andrade
Claudia de Macedo Davis
Lyla Miller
Rachel Smith
Carolyn Tennant
Closed Captioning
Pillar to Post
Treat me Right Too
Slow and Easy
Celeste Waltz
Cooper Shuffel
Written and Performed by
Tony Delafose and Friends
Consultants
Dr. Paul Templet
Prof. Oliver Houck
Prof. Elaine Leeder
Dr. Frederick Kaufman
Dr. Marlene Barken
Special Thanks
John Biers - Daniel Blake - David Brignac - Rosemary Brown - Milton Cambre - Janie Campbell - Travis Chiasson - Children's Hospital - Communities for a Better Environment - Concerned Citizens of Norco - Corporate Watch - Hazel Davis - Rebecca Dayries - The Deep South Center - The Digirolamo Family - Earthjustice - George Eugene - Lily Galland - Dr. A. Joanne Cates - Monique Harden - Barbara Helhurt-Evans - The Hollins Family - John Hoskyns-Abrahall - Dorothy Jenkins - Otha Johnsom
Denny Larson - Louisiana Environmental Action Network - Barbara Martin - Armend Matherne, Jr - Patricia Melancon - Marylee Orr - The Reneau Family - Anne Rolfes - Margie Richard - The River Road Museum - St. James Concerned Citizens for Jobs & Environment - Shell Chemical Co., Norco - Bessy Smith - Juanita Stewart - Wilma Subra - Jeff Thomas - Mickey Tsapis, Beam Travel - Joann Turley - Sis Webb - Emelda West - Dr. Beverly Wright
Produced in association with the Independent Television Service. This program was produced by LOGTV, Ltd., which is solely responsible for its content.
March 2003 – 52 mins
A documentary by Log In Productions
Voice Over 01:00:01:00
MAJOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
“Slow and Easy” (Theme Music)
Margie Richard 01:01:03:00
WHEN THAT BLACK SMOKE COME AND MEET WITH THE DARK CLOUDS, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S A CLOUD AND WHAT’S SMOKE. HOW YOU CAN NOT HELP BUT BE IN FEAR. AND THIS IS A FRIGHTENING THING.
Vickie Reneau 01:01:25:13
ACTUALLY, I KIND OF LIKE TO LOOK OUT AT THE PLANT AND SEE ALL THE LIGHTS AND IF THERE’S A FLARE GOING IT BRIGHTENS EVERYTHING. I… I DON’T THINK ANYTHING BAD AT ALL.
THE FLARES ARE REALLY NOT BAD AND PEOPLE DON’T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT. WHEN YOU SEE IT, IT’S PREVENTING A MISHAP THAT COULD HAPPEN.
TITLE 01:01:56:20
Fenceline: A Company Town Divided
TITLE 01:02:03:08
A film by Slawomir Grünberg
TITLE 01:02:07:18
Over 75 years ago, Shell and other oil companies built facilities on former plantations in the Mississippi Delta
Today some residents, in what many call "Cancer Alley" are asking to be relocated while others take pride in their company town
TITLE 01:02:46:09
Sal Digirolamo
Norco Resident
Sal Digirolamo 01:02:31:12
NEW ORLEANS REFINING COMPANY WAS HERE PRIOR TO 1925, I’M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE, AND THAT’S WHAT NORCO STANDS FOR: NEW ORLEANS REFINING COMPANY. WELL, THE ONE THING WE WANTED TO DISPLAY WAS HOW THE COMMUNITY GETS ALONG WITH THE INDUSTRY AND PUTTING THEM SIDE BY SIDE WAS ONE OF THE BETTER WAYS FOR US TO SHOW THAT.
Kenny Reneau 01:02:59:11
...THAT TELLS YOU HOW MANY MINUTES IT WOULD TAKE FOR YOUR HEART TO BEAT A MILLION TIMES. SO THAT'S HOW MANY MINUTES. AND TO GET HOURS YOU DIVIDE SIXTY INTO THAT, RIGHT?
TITLE 01:03:11:07
Vickie Reneau
Norco Resident
Vickie Reneau 01:03:08:01
NOW MY GRANDFATHER WORKED FOR SHELL AND HE AND MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED HERE IN NORCO. AND THEY RAISED SEVEN CHILDREN, WHICH THEY ALL LIVE HERE IN NORCO. ALL BUT ONE OF MY UNCLES RETIRED FROM SHELL.
TITLE 01:03:29:10
Kenny Reneau
Norco Resident
Kenny Reneau 01:03:26:10
I MOVED DOWN HERE IN 1979 TO COME WORK AT THE WATERFORD THREE NUCLEAR PLANT ACROSS THE RIVER... BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING REALLY GOOD MONEY, MAINLY, AND PLUS I WAS GOOD IN THAT FIELD. AND I MET VICKIE, MY WIFE, AT MARDI GRAS AND SHE'D ALREADY BEEN WORKING AT SHELL FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I SAID, WELL LETS MOVE IN TO NORCO BECAUSE THAT WAY SHE'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLANT AND I'M ONLY TWENTY MILES FROM WHERE I WORK.
Cheerleader 01:04:01:29
FIRE UP, READY?
TITLE 01:04:04:02
Middle School, Norco
All Cheerleaders 01:04:04:02
OKAY! FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
FIRE UP REDSKINS, FIRE UP!
EXPLODE, IGNITE, THE NORCO TEAM IS DYNAMITE!
EXPLODE, IGNITE, THE NORCO TEAM IS DYNAMITE!
EXPLODE!
TITLE 01:04:26:22
Margie Richard
Norco Resident
Margie Richard 01:04:30:07
I AM A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER. I GREW UP IN NORCO. IN THE FIFTIES, SHELL BOUGHT OUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUILD THE CHEMICAL PLANT. WE MOVED JUST EAST OF WHERE WE WERE TO THE OLD DIAMOND PLANTATION. OVER THE YEARS, SHELL CHEMICAL PLANT CONTINUED TO EXPAND UNTIL THEY REACHED THE VERY EDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY THE FENCELINE IS ONLY 22 FEET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
(Singing) THIS IS THE DAY, THIS IS THE DAY, THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD HE DID.
TITLE 01:05:16:12
Diamond Community
Norco, Louisiana
Margie Richard 01:05:18:21
THESE ARE THE SURVEY FORMS WE HAVE, FOR THAT RELOCATION THING, TO MAKE SURE THAT SHELL’S NOT GOING TO MOVE ANYBODY FROM HERE AND THEY BE IN DEBT. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE ISSUE: DO NOT WANT TO BE RELOCATED, WANT TO BE RELOCATED BY SHELL AND WISH TO NEGOTIATE WITH SHELL AS A GROUP, WANT TO BE RELOCATED BY SHELL BUT WISH TO NEGOTIATE IT WITH SHELL ON MY OWN.
Bessy Smith 01:05:47:20
THEY SHOULD TALK TO EVERYBODY.
Margie Richard 01:05:46:26
TALK TO US AS A GROUP.
Bessy Smith 01:05:50:00
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
Margie Richard 01:05:50:25
IF YOU WANT TO NEGIOTIATE WITH SHELL AS A GROUP DO YOU AGREE NOT TO START NEGOTIATIONS ON YOUR OWN AND NOT TO SIGN ANYTHING?
Bessy Smith 01:06:00:20
WELL, WE'RE NOT SIGNING ANYTHING.
Margie Richard 01:06:01:10
WE DON'T WANT THAT, YEAH, THERE YOU GO. UH HUH. YEAH.
Bessie Smith 01:06:03:06
WE'RE NOT SIGNING ANYTHING UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
Margie Richard 01:06:07:24
YOU COMING TO THE MEETING TONIGHT?
Bessy Smith 01:06:08:10
OH YEAH.
Margie Richard 01:06:09:12
WELL, I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT. GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU NEED A RIDE.
Bessy Smith 01:06:12:05
ALL RIGHT.
Little Girls 01:06:21:00
MOVE! PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. PEEK-A-BOO. HAHAHA! PEEK-A-BOO. GOT YA! PEEK-A-BOO.
Margie Richard 01:06:36:08
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO RELAX OR TAKE A NAP BEFORE WE GET THERE YOU CAN PUSH YOUR SEAT BACK. BEFORE WE GO DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL SO YOU CAN GET YOUR TEST, AND YOU’LL BE A CHAMP, RIGHT?
Nurse 01:06:50:18
GREGORY JACKSON! WE’RE GOING IN THE BACK AND GET WEIGHED.
Gregory Jackson
(Inaudible)
Nurse 01:06:56:13
YEAH, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW. WE GOT TO GET YOUR HEIGHT AND YOUR WEIGHT.
TITLE 01:06:57:13
Children's Hospital
New Orleans, 40 miles from Norco
Dr. A. Joanne Gates 01:07:03:00
DEEP BREATH. GOOD JOB. MY GOODNESS, HOW CAN YOU BREATHE? YOUR NOSE IS ALL STUFFED UP.
Gregory Jackson 01:07:11:14
GOT A SORE THROAT.
TITLE 01:07:12:18
G.J.
Margie’s Grandson
Dr. Gates 01:07:13:09
YOU GOT A SORE THROAT? I’M SORRY.
THE VERY FIRST THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT ASTHMA IS AVOID YOUR PROBLEMS. OR AVOID YOUR TRIGGERS, WHAT WE CALL TRIGGERS.
TITLE 01:07:23:08
Dr. A. Joanne Gates
Associate Medical Director, Children's Hospital
Dr. Gates 01:07:23:18
AND HE… IT’S A LITTLE HARD FOR HIM TO DO. HERE WE HAVE TROUBLE WITH SOME ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS. IT’S A LITTLE HARDER TO GET AWAY FROM. THIS SECTION OF THE COUNTRY, THE SOUTHEAST, WE HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF ASTHMA. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA, A LOT OF SCHOOL DAYS MISSED BECAUSE OF ASTHMA. PROBABLY TEN PERCENT OF THE KIDS HAVE ASTHMA, TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT TO FIFTY-PERCENT OF SCHOOL DAYS MISSED ARE BECAUSE OF ASTHMA.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:07:54:22
HEY GREGORY, HOW YOU DOING MAN.
Margie Richard 01:07:55:04
HI. FINE.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:07:56:01
SO YOU REMEMBER THESE TESTS? OKAY, WELL WE’RE GOING TO DO THEM AGAIN TODAY.
Dr. Gates 01:08:00:21
WHEN YOU HAVE ASTHMA, YOU CAN’T BREATHE. IT’S A PRETTY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. YOU WORRY AT SOME LEVEL THAT YOU MIGHT DIE.
Sal Cangiamilla 01:08:12:05
FIRST TEST WE’RE GOING TO DO TODAY IS TO SEE HOW HARD YOU CAN BREATHE IN. SO YOU REMEMBER THE ONE WHERE I TRIED TO STOP YOU FROM BREATHING IN, REMEMBER THAT? OKAY, WELL THAT’S THE ONE WE’RE GOING TO DO FIRST, OKAY?
RIGHT HERE, BIG BREATH IN. BIG, BIG, BIG… AND BLOW ALL THE WAY OUT. BLOW IT OUT. COME ON HARD. BIG FAST BREATH IN! BIG, BIG, BIG.
BLOW… BLOW, COME ON, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, ALL THE WAY OUT, GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT, PUSH OUT, PUSH OUT, PUSH OUT… VERY GOOD AND TAKE YOUR MOUTH OFF.
Sal Digirolamo 01:08:47:00
I KNOW MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN NORCO, CAN’T THINK OF ONE PERSON WHO HAS ASTHMA. NOT ONE. AND I’M THINKING HARD. I’M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DON’T HAVE… I KNOW THEY GOT A FEW CASES, THEY GOT TO HAVE, EVERY COMMUNITY GOT THAT. BUT I DON’T… I’M NOT EVEN SURE THAT THERE’S ANY, ANY, UH, STUDIES OR ANYTHING THAT SAID THOSE TWO GO TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.
AH, MUST HAVE BEEN STANDING UP. HEY, HOW YOU DOING SUGAR?
I’VE LIVED HERE ABOUT SEVENTY YEARS AND I WORKED AT SHELL FOR FORTY YEARS AND RETIRED FROM SHELL FOR FORTY YEARS. LIKE I TOLD MANY A PEOPLE, IF I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WAS UNSAFE, I WOULD SURELY NOT ALLOW MY TWO SONS AND MY SON-IN-LAW TO WORK THERE. I WOULDN’T BE THE TYPE OF PARENT THAT I SHOULD BE IF I ALLOWED THAT TO TAKE PLACE.
Wilma Subra 01:10:09:26
I WORKED FOR A RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR 14 YEARS. WE DID CANCER STUDIES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES.
Wilma Subra (On the phone) 01:10:19:02
THIS IS WILMA MAY I HELP YOU?
Wilma Subra 01:10:20:25
WE DID ALL THE TOXILOGICAL EVALUATIONS OF CHEMICALS AND THE IMPACTS THEY WERE HAVING ON ANIMALS AS WELL AS HUMANS. WE WORKED IN LOVE CANAL BEFORE THE INITIAL CITIZENS WERE EVACUATED.
TITLE 01:10:55:00
Wilma Subra
Chemist and Environmental Consultant
Wilma Subra 01:10:37:12
THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS CANCER ALLEY, WHICH IS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS. THERE ARE OVER 100 INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES LOCATED IN THIS AREA OF THE RIVER. THEY PUT OUT HUGE QUANTITIES OF TOXIC EMMISSIONS INTO THE AIR. THEY DISCHARGE INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND HAVE IMPACTED THE SEDIMENT IN THE RIVER AND THE ORGANISMS; THE FISH AND THE CRABS IN THE RIVER. BUT MOSTLY IT'S THE AIR IMPACTS THAT ARE BEING FELT BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL ALONG THE RIVER CORRIDOR. AND THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THE FENCELINE OF THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THIS IS NORCO COMMUNITY. IT WAS A COMPANY TOWN ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE WORKERS TO THE REFINERY. THE AREA THAT'S IN GREEN RIGHT HERE IS THE AFRICAN AMERCIAN COMUNITY KNOWN AS THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY. IT GOES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE RAILROAD TRACK; IT GOES FROM THE SHELL CHEMICAL PLANT TO A ONE BLOCK WIDE TREED AREA. IT WAS ESTABLISHED ON WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE DIAMOND PLANTATION. IT IS 100% AFRICAN AMERICAN. THE PEOPLE IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY HAVE ABOUT A 50% RATE OF FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL. THEY HAVE A VERY POOR ECONOMIC STANDARD AND THEY DESPERATELY WANT TO BE RELOCATED. ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY, ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL, WORKS AT THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. THE REST OF NARCO IS 98% WHITE AND THESE PEOPLE EITHER WORK AT THE REFINERY OR ONE OF THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE AREA, OR ARE RETIREED FROM THE SHELL FACILTIIES.
TITLE 01:12:41:05
Diamond residents ask the "Bucket Brigade" to teach them how to take their own air samples
Anne Rolfes 01:12:41:05
HEY THERE, HOW YA... WOW, YOU LOOK SHARP.
Old Man 01:12:45:00
LOOK AT ME.
Anne Rolfes 01:12:45:23
GOD, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
Old Man 01:12:47:00
LOOK AT ME.
Anne Rolfes 01:12:47:10
YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT… YEAH, SIT DOWN.
Denny Larson 01:12:51:09
I’M DENNY LARSON. I’M THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF THE BUCKET BRIGADE PROJECT, WITH COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT. WE’RE AN ORGANIZATION BASED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS FRUSTRATION WITH NOT KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE WERE BREATHING IN PLACES LIKE WHERE YOU’RE LIVING HERE, THIS BUCKET WAS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU COULD FIND OUT WHAT YOU’RE BREATHING, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE COMPANIES AREN’T TAKING SAMPLES, THE AGENCIES AREN’T TAKING SAMPLES YET, THEY WANT TO TELL YOU THERE’S NO PROBLEM. BUT THERE IS NO HEALTH LEVELS SET FOR WHEN YOU BREATHE ALL THOSE TWENTY CHEMICALS AT ONCE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SET A HEALTH LEVEL FOR ONE CHEMICAL AT A TIME. BUT THEY DON’T SET ANY HEALTH LEVEL FOR BREATHING TWENTY, TWENTY-FIVE CHEMICALS AT ONCE. WE’RE GOING TO BUILD A BUCKET FOR YOU HERE TONIGHT AND GET EVEN A COUPLE MORE HERE SO YOU CAN BE TAKING TESTS EVERY TIME THESE GUYS LET OUT. BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT, FOR THE WINDOW. THEN YOU GOT TWO OTHER HOLES. PUSH DOWN, NICE AND STEADY JUST KIND OF SLOW BECAUSE THE DRILL ISN’T THAT POWERFUL. THERE WE GO. THAT BAG IS LIKE YOUR LUNG. IT’S BREATHING IN TOO ONLY IT TAKES ONE BIG LONG BREATH FOR THREE MINUTES, AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO SHUT THE VALVE SO IT’S GONNA HOLD IT’S BREATH. AND WE’RE GONNA SHIP IT ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA. AND WHEN IT GET’S THERE IT’S GOING TO EXHALE INTO A COMPUTER AND THAT COMPUTER HAS FINGERPRINTS IN IT FOR THOSE CRIMINAL CHEMICALS THAT YOU’RE BREATHING. AND WHEN THE GAS IN THERE MATCHES THAT FINGERPRINT FROM THAT BENZENE CRIMINAL CHEMICAL, BINGO. COMES UP POSITIVE ON THE SCREEN. THIS BUCKET STOOD UP TO EVERY TEST THEY GAVE IT. AND AT THE END OF IT, EPA SIGNED OFF ON IT. SO THIS IS EPA APPROVED TECHNOLOGY TO GATHER AN AIR SAMPLE.
David Brignac 01:14:51:45
THERE'S A GROUP CALLED THE BUCKET BRIGADE AND THEY'RE FURNISHED BUCKETS AND THEY CATCH AIR SAMPLES AND THEY SEND THEM OFF SOMEWHERE AND GET THEM ANALYZED.
TITLE 01:14:58:08
David Brignac
Manager, Shell Good Neighbor Initiative
David Brignac 01:15:00:14
SO, I AM FAMILIAR THAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING ON WITH CERTAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ALSO TAKE AIR SAMPLES AND OUR AIR SAMPLES SHOW THAT, WHEN WE ANALYZE THEM, THAT ALL OF OUR EMMISSIONS ARE WITHIN STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS. NOW, THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF TRUST BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS CATCHING THEIR SAMPLES AND THEY’RE SAYING, 'LOOK WHAT WE FIND', WE'RE CATCHING OUR SAMPLES AND SAYING, UH...NO, WE, WE SEE CLEAN AIR HERE IN NORCO. SO HOW DO YOU GET AT THIS IN A WAY THAT BUILDS TRUST?
Wilma Subra 01:15:36:18
FLARING IN THE NORCO COMMUNITY OCCURS ON A WEEKLY IF NOT DAILY BASIS. HUGE QUANTITIES OF CHEMICALS ARE EMITTED THROUGH THE FLARE. THE FLARE IS OFTEN NOT CAPABLE OF BURNING THE CHEMICAL COMPLETELY SO YOU HAVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF THE RESIDUAL CHEMICAL EMITTED INTO THE AIR THROUGH THE FLARE.
TITLE 01:15:58:29
Air emission workshop, Norco
Wilma Subra 01:15:57:07
THIS IS BASED ON SHELL'S REPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S WORK IN COLLECTING THEIR OWN AIR SAMPLES. EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THE UNIT AT SHELL OVERPRESSURIZED. THESE ARE THE CHEMICALS THAT WERE COLLECTED THAT DAY AND THEY ARE ARRANGED IN ORDER OF CONCENTRATION. AND AS YOU SEE THE HIGHEST ONE WE FOUND WAS M.E.K., WAS PRESENT IN 12 PARTS PER BILLION. SO FOR M.E.K., WE HAVE 'IRRITATES NOSE, THROAT, SKIN AND EYES'. HOW MANY OF YOU, THAT DAY, EXPERIENCED THOSE SYMPTOMS?
Audience Member 01:16:33:24
YES.
Audience Member 01:16:35:00
ALL OF US.
Audience Member 01:16:35:25
ALL OF US.
Audience Member 01:16:36:00
THAT'S RIGHT.
Wilma Subra 01:16:36:20
EVERYBODY.
Audience Member 01:16:36:22
ALL OF US.
Wilma Subra 01:16:37:12
LET'S LOOK AT THE SECOND CHEMICAL WE FOUD IN THE SAMPLE. IT WAS TALUININE AND IT CAUSES DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE. THEN YOU HAVE A CANCER ONE. AND WHAT'S THE CANCER ONE? BENZINE.
Audience Member 01:16:48:19
BENZINE.
Wilma Subra 01:16:49:23
...KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER IN HUMANS, CAUSES LEUKEMIA. THERE WAS BENZINE IN THAT SAMPLE. AND THEN WE HAVE STYRINE THAT CAUSES NERVOUS SYSTEM. METHALINE CHLORIDE—DEVELOPMENTAL.
SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS ARE REALLY LONG TERM. THEY CAUSE REAL SEVERE HEALTH IMPACTS. A LOT OF THEM DON'T OCCUR AT THE REALLY LOW LEVELS, THEY JUST START BIO-ACCUMULATING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU START DEVELOPING ALL THESE BREAKDOWNS IN THE SYSTEM. THE ORGANS START GOING, YOU DEVELOP VARIOUS KINDS OF CANCERS, YOU DEVELOP NEUROLOGICAL IMPACTS. AND YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR AND SAY, 'WELL I HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYTHING NEW.' AND IT’S BUILDING UP IN YOUR SYSTEM, JUST LIKE IT’S BUILDING UP IN THE FISH, AND WHATEVER YOU EAT IN THE FISH, IT BUILDS UP IN YOUR BODY.
David Brignac 01:17:42:17
WE HAVE DONE SOME STUDIES ON OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WHICH INDICATE THAT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WHICH WORK HERE EVERY DAY, IN GENERAL, WE FOUND THAT THEY LIVE LONGER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND, IN GENERAL, THAT THEY'RE HEALTHIER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. SO AT THIS POINT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE'S NO SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT WOULD LINK HEALTH ISSUES WITH LIVING NEXT TO ONE OF OUR FACILITIES.
TITLE 01:18:09:03
Wilma Subra
MacArthur Fellow in Chemistry
Wilma Subra 01:18:09:03
THE RESIDENTS OF NORCO ARE EXPOSED TO A HUNDRED TO A THOUSAND TIMES HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICALS THAN PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS AROUND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. THESE CHEMICALS CAUSE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES, ASTHMA, CANCER, BIRTH DEFECTS, AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER TYPES OF DISEASES AND INCIDENTS TO THEIR HEALTH.
John (Vickie’s Brother) 01:18:38:14
LET’S SEE, THIS IS PLANT DAY 1960.
Vickie Reneau 01:18:40:28
OHHH, LOOK IT'S KIRBY.
Kirby 01:18:43:17
THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.
Vickie 01:18:44:22
MY GOODNESS!
Kenny Reneau 01:18:46:00
THIS A FAMILY THING? SHELL DAY?
John 01:18:47:00
1961.
Vickie 01:18:48:20
THEY USED TO CALL IT PLANT DAY.
Kirby Giroir 01:18:51:00
EVERYBODY, NOT JUST SHELL EMPLOYEES, EVERYBODY WOULD COME. SAINT JOHN'S PARISH...
Kenny 01:18:54:00
AND IT WAS FREE?
Kirby Giroir 01:18:55:00
YEP, EVERYTHING WAS FREE.
TITLE 01:18:58:10
Kirby Giroir
Vickie’s Father
Kirby Giroir 01:18:58:10
I MISS THE PLANT DAY. WHAT I MISS MOSTLY IS THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WE WORKED WITH. I'VE BEEN OVER AT THE PLANT MAYBE TWICE SINCE I'VE RETIRED. I GUESSE THE PLAN WAS TO GET TOGETHER AND MEET EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW. IT WAS NICE.
Margie 01:19:29:20
MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE, MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH-IF IT'S NOT BRONCHIAL DIFFICULTIES-THE VITAL ORGANS DESTROYED AND CANCER. THE BUILDING YOU SEE HERE BELONGS TO NORMAN RICHARD, A BROTHER-IN-LAW OF MINE, WHO GRANDSON DIED, DEVON RICHARD, FROM ASTHMA IN THE NIGHT. EARLINE EUGENE LIVED RIGHT HERE WHICH WAS MY MOM'S SISTER-IN-LAW, SHE DIED OF LIVER CANCER. THE BENZIN CONTRIBUTED TO IT, I'M SURE. MS. ELOISE MACHE LIVED RIGHT HERE SHE DIED OF LIVER CANCER. THE BLUE HOUSE WHERE MILDRED BLUNT LIVED, SHE WAS TOLD SHE HAD SARCARDOSIS. BUT THEY TOLD IT'S GONE AWAY. AND UH...LILY MAY SMITH DIED RIGHT HERE OF CANCER. AND HERE'S MY MOBILE HOME; AFTER DIVORCING I BOUGHT A MOBILE HOME. THIS IS MY LOT AND THAT’S MY MOTHER'S LOT. MY SISTER LIVED HERE IN THIS PEACH AND WHITE HOUSE AND THEN SHE DIED FROM SARCAROCDOSIS. MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MY OLDEST DAUGHTER SUFFERED FROM ASTHMA, AND ALMOST DIED WHEN SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD FROM A COLLAPSED LUNG AS SHE WAS PLAYING OUTSIDE. MY MOTHER, WHO NOW HAS A MACHINE INSIDE FOR WHEN SHE NEED IT. ALMOST EVERYBODY IN TOWN HAVE ALLERGENIC MACHINES IN THE HOUSE.
Sal 01:21:11:29
AL HERE HE, HE'S UH.... HE'S ONE OF THE YOUNGER ONES, I GUESS, HE'S ABOUT 80. 80 YEARS OLD YOU KNOW. WE HAVE, WELL LEN HERE HE JUST RETIRED- HE'S 60. DICK HE JUST RETIRED, HE'S 60 - THOSE ARE YOUNG GUYS. THAT, THAT, THAT PERSON THERE, THEY’RE 80 YEARS OLD. HER HUSBAND DIED AT 82. THIS MAN HERE? HE'S ABOUT 83, 84. I'M SURE WE HAD A FEW OF THEM DIE OF CANCER. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RECENTLY. YOU KNOW, I, I, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW MANY. WE DON'T DIE TOO OFTEN IN NORCO.
Wilma 01:22:05:00
IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WE LACK A GOOD CANCER DATABASE FOR INCIDENTS OF CANCER, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT. ONE, THE DOCTORS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING TO THIS DATABASE ARE FREQUENTLY THE COMPANY DOCTORS, SO THEY DON’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING ON RECORD THAT SHOWS THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE CITIZENS. AND TWO, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF HAVING CANCER WILL GO OUT OF STATE FOR EVALUATION AND TREATMENT. SO THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE.
Margie 01:22:47:00
THIS IS MARGIE CALLING.
Man on Phone 01:22:49:20
YES, MS. MARGIE, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
Margie 01:22:51:00
I JUST GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THEY CLOSED DOWN RIVER ROAD EARLIER.
Man on Phone 01:22:55:00
WE HAD A, WE HAD A FIRE AT ORION.
Margie 01:22:59:20
WHAT TIME WAS THAT?
Man on Phone 01:23:00:00
IT STARTED AT ONE O'CLOCK, ENDED AT THREE THIRTY. THERE WAS NO PRECAUTION GIVEN TO ANY RESIDENCES, BECAUSE THE SMOKE NEVER CAME DOWN TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE PLANT. THEY PUT HOSES ON THE VAPORS AND, UH, IT BURNED UNTIL IT COOLED. BUT THE ACTUAL FIRE WAS VERY, VERY SHORT.
Percy 01:23:39:07
THAT STUFF STINKS!
Margie 01:24:06:14
EVEN THOUGH THE WIND BLOWING I CAN STILL SMELL IT. YEAH, THAT MAKES ME SICK. I CAN'T. I GOTTA GO.
Wilma 01:24:19:16
THE ORION REFINERY, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE SHELL REFINERY, HAD A FIRE AT A SULPHUR UNIT. MARGIE AND PERCY WENT OUT THERE AND COLLECTED A SAMPLE USING THE BUCKET. AT THE TIME THAT THEY WENT OUT THEY WERE COMPLAINING OF IMPACTS TO THEIR HEALTH. WHEN WE GOT BACK THE RESULTS OF THE AIR SAMPLE IT CONTAINED BENZENE, TALUINE, ETHYL BENZENE AND ZALINE. THE BENZINE RESULTS WERE 4.3 PARTS PER BILLION. THE STATE STANDARD IS 3.76.
Margie 01:24:49:00
YOU SMELL IT?
Percy 01:24:50:00
UMM HMM.
Wilma 01:24:51:00
BENZENE IS PROVEN TO CAUSE CANCER IN HUMANS.
Margie 01:24:55:00
NO I SMELL IT NOW A LITTLE BIT.
Percy 01:24:56:23
YEAH.
Wilma 01:24:59:00
IF THERE WASN'T A MECHANISM FOR THE CITIZENS TO COLLECT THEIR OWN SAMPLES DURING THESE TYPES OF EVENTS AND DEMONSTRATE TO THE REGULATORY AGENCIES THAT THE IMPACT WAS CROSSING THE FENCELINE, THE AGENCY WOULD MERELY REVIEW THE INCIDENT REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE COMPANY AND THIS WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER SHEET OF PAPER THAT'S PUT IN A FILE AND FILED AWAY.
TITLE 01:25:28:10
Trepagnier Bayou, Norco
TITLE 01:25:39:29
Milton Cambre
Shell Retiree
Milton 01:25:39:15
FROM THE 20'S WHEN THIS REFINERY WAS BUILT, UP UNTIL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS CAME IN I WOULD SAY IN THE LATE 60'S, ALL OF THE DISCHARGE, YOU KNOW, CAME RIGHT INTO THAT BAYOU. IT WAS NOT TREATED. IT HAS A REAL, YOU KNOW, STRONG ODOR OF, OF HYDROCARBONS. IT'S, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE THE SHEEN ON THE, ON THE OIL. AND THIS IS IT'S 3 TO 5 FOOT, YOU KNOW, THICK ON THE BOTTOM. IT'S, IT'S QUITE A BIT OF IT. SEE HOW BLACK IT IS NOW? WE DIDN'T SEE THE AMOUNTS OF POLLUTION, BUT THE POLLUTION OCCURED FOR OVER 50 YEARS. INDUSTRY WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING, ANYTHING ILLEGAL, IT, IT, IT JUST WAS AN ACCEPTED PRACTISE. IT'S A NICE CLOSE KNIT LITTLE COMMUNITY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I ENJOY, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN NORCO. WE KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE THERE AND WE EITHER GO, YOU KNOW, TO CHURCH WITH, OR ARE FREINDS WITH THEM OR, I WORK WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED IN THIS WHOLE AREA UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY SINCE THE 50'S. THIS IS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT AND THIS ABUTS THE SHELL CHEMICAL. AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY, I THINK THIS HOUSE HERE IS UH ON THE MARKET NOW FOR $277,000. WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WE'VE HAD 3 NEW HOMES BUILT AND THERE'S 3 MORE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
TITLE 01:27:15:20
Armand Matherne
New Home Owner
Armand Matherne, Jr. 01:27:15:10
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I GOT UP TO GO GET THE PAPER AND UH, I WAS WALKING IN THE HOUSE AND I WENT (SNIFF) 'OH! GEE, THAT'S THE SMELL EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT.' AND I WALK IN THE HOUSE 'CAUSE, I HADN'T EVEN NOTICED IT WAS THERE, YOU KNOW. AND I KNOW THE PLANT’S RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN SIT ON MY BACK PORCH AND YOU CAN WATCH THE STEAM AS IT COMES UP FROM THE PLANT. YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE TORCH BURNING FROM MY BACK PORCH AND YOU CAN HEAR THE TRAIN GOING BY, BUT IT'S NO BIG DEAL. I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN LIVE AND I GUESS IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE, BUT I COULD FIND A LOT WORSE NEIGHBORS THAN A REFINERY, I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH. I WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THAT ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD, AND THE 5 YEAR OLD, AND THE 3 YEAR OLD. I WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THEM OUT HERE IF I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SAFE.
Dave 01:28:05:10
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? I'M DAVE.
Wilma 01:28:09:20
HI, I'M WILMA SUBRA, TROUBLEMAKER.
Both 01:28:12:00
(laughing)
TITLE 01:28:13:00
Shell calls a public meeting for Norco residents
Wilma 01:28:14:00
OK, THANKS. PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MOVE IN THOSE HOUSES, BUT HAVEN'T LIVED IN NORCO, IT'D BE REALLY GREAT TO GET A BLOOD TEST ON THEM, BEFORE THEY MOVE INTO THEIR NEW EXPENSIVE HOUSES AND THEN THEY MOVE IN NEXT TO SHELL CHEMICAL AND START BEING EXPOSED TO WHATEVER YOU'RE PUTTING OUT OVER ACROSS THE FENCELINE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF LEVELS. I MEAN, YOU GOT A PERFECT CASE FOR OR AGAINST RIGHT THERE, CAUSE YOU GOT PEOPLE MOVING IN THERE.
Dave 01:28:46:20
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD ALARM THEM? TO DO THAT?
Wilma 01:28:50:00
ALARM WHO?
Dave 01:28:50:20
WELL, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TESTED.
Wilma 01:28:53:14
(sigh) WELL, LET'S, LIKE I JUST TOLD HIM, WAIT. YOU CAN EITHER DO IT AND BE UPFRONT OR YOU CAN HAVE A.T.S.D.R. COME IN AND KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR IN TYVEK SUITS. THERE'S NEVER AN EASY WAY OF DOING IT, YOU KNOW.
Dave 01:29:08:00
YEAH
Wilma 01:29:09:00
AND YOU KNOW, AT ALL THE MEETINGS THE INTERESTING THINGS ARE THE WHITE COMMUNITY AND 3/4 OF THE COMMUNITY IS GOING, LIKE, 'THE FACILITY DOESN'T IMPACT US.' AND THE PEOPLE IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY ARE GOING LIKE, 'THE FACILITY IMPACTS US.' YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU ALL PUT UP SOME AIR MONITORS LIKE WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHEMICALS IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY, IT DOESN'T JUST STOP THERE. AND SO, IS IT GOING TO ALARM THE WHITE COMMUNITY? THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. IT'S BETTER TO KNOW NOW THAN AFTER.
Dave 01:29:40:27
YEAH?
Rob 01:29:46:20
ALRIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START. MY NAME IS ROB QUENE AND I WORK AT THE SHELL OIL COMPANY. TONIGHT'S MEETING IS ABOUT OUR PLANS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS THE E.P.A ISSUED LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER. IT’S A RULE THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS FROM OUR TWO ON SITE HAZARDOUS WASTE COMBUSTION UNITS, HERE AT THE WEST SITE.
THAT'S ABOUT HOW MUCH WE EMIT. WE'RE GONNA DROP THAT DOWN...
Barbara 01:30:11:00
AND HOW ABOUT...WHAT'S THE REGULATION?
Rob 01:30:12:00
THE REGULATION WILL TAKE US DOWN ABOUT 98%.
Barbara 01:30:14:10
I MEAN WHAT'S THE REGULATION, NOW.
Rob 01:30:16:20
THE REGULATION NOW...
Barbara 01:30:17:20
YOU SAY YOU DON'T MEET IT, SO WHAT, YOU ADMIT TO THIS SO, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT IS THE REGULATION?
Rob 01:30:23:00
THE REGULATION SAYS BRING THE EMISSION OF DIOXAN PURANS, HANG IN THERE WITH ME, DOWN TO POINT TWO NANNOGRAMS PER DRY STANDARD CUBIC METER CORRECTED TO SEVEN PERCENT OXYGEN.
Margie 01:30:35:20
WOULDN'T SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO'S ON THE FENCE LINE NEED TO BE AWAY WHEN YOU CAN'T CORRECT EPISODIC RELEASE PLUS THIS ALL AT ONE TIME?
Erica Jackson 01:31:01:20
BREATHE. MAKE IT DISSAPPEAR.
Margie Richard 01:31:05:00
DRAW IN AGAIN. DEEP. DEEP. BLOW OUT.
IN… OUT… IT’S ALMOST OVER.
Erica Jackson 01:31:27:00
SUCK IT IN.
ALRIGHT, HERE. GREGORY.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU LAST YEAR? REMEMBER WHEN MOMMY TOLD YOU THAT THE DOCTOR SAID THAT HE COULDN’T HELP YOU ANYMORE?
TITLE 01:31:38:07
Erica Jackson
Margie's Daughter
Gregory Jackson 01:31:38:01
YEAH.
Erica Jackson 01:31:38:19
AND THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DO WHAT?
Gregory Jackson 01:31:40:10
DIE.
Erica Jackson 01:31:40:20
THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE RIGHT? AND WHAT HAPPENED?
Gregory Jackson 01:31:43:20
I SURVIVE.
Margie 01:31:52:25
YOU ALL BETTER PUT ON MASKS ON, COMIN' OUT HERE DERRICK. EVERY KID THAT COMES OUT HERE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE INHALING CHEMICALS. THAT'S WHAT KILLED MY SISTER. THIS WAS BETHUNE, MERRIMACK LIYARD BETHUNE HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS A SCHOOL HERE THAT WENT FROM FIRST TO TWELTH GRADE. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WAS HELD RIGHT ON THIS SPOT WHERE I'M STANDING BECAUSE IT WAS THE GYM AND I CAN REMEMBER GROWING UP HERE, PLAYING AT RECESS. WE NEVER GAVE IT ANY THOUGHT THAT THE PLANT WAS PUTTING OUT POLLUTION AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, AS MANY OF US GOT OLDER AND ESPECIALLY NOW AND WE THINK BACK, WE REALIZE THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THIS SCHOOL SUFFER FROM SOME TYPE OF BRONCHIAL DISEASES, SOME TYPE OF RESPITORY ORGANS THAT ARE DETERIORATING. AND MY SISTER WHO HAD SARCARODOSIS, HER LUNGS WERE TOTALLY DETERIORATED BY THE TIME SHE MADE 53. AND NOW IT'S A PLAYGROUND.
Grace Giroir 01:33:26:00
THIS IS GRANNY AND THIS IS MY SISTERS AND A FRIEND. WE WERE ON THE SPILLWAY BRIDGE...
Erin Rook 01:33:31:00
MMM HMM...
Grace Giroir 01:33:31:20
AND THE ARMY TRUCKS WOULD PASS BY AND SOLDIERS WOULD STOP AND WE'D TALK TO THEM, YOU KNOW AND...
Erin 01:33:36:25
MMMM, HMMM, HMMM, HMMM.
Grace 01:33:38:00
THERE THEY ARE AGAIN, YOU SEE THE ARMY TRUCKS?
Erin 01:33:40:07
WHAT DO YOU ALL GOT ON? WHAT'S THEM BOOTS?
Grace 01:33:43:15
THEY ALL GREW UP HERE IN NORCO.
Erin 01:33:46:00
THAT WAS NANNIE ROSE'S WEDDING?
Vickie 01:33:47:25
NANNIE ROSE'S, YEP. I WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD, A YEAR OLD?
Grace 01:33:53:10
MAYBE 1929, I'VE LIVED ALL MY LIFE HERE IN NORCO AND WHEN WE GREW UP, WE HAD, SHELL SUPPLIED US WITH A SWIMMING POOL AND WE WENT TO BASEBALL GAMES...
Kirby Giroir 01:34:08:05
...A GYM
Grace 01:34:09:00
WE WENT TO MOVIES. THIS IS A PIN THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOUR GRAND, OR YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER AFTER 1O YEARS OF SERVICE WITH SHELL AND THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM IN 1941. AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE COMPANY, THEY GIVE YOU THE EMERALD STONE ON THIS LITTLE SHELL EMBLEM. WE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD LIFE WITH SHELL. MY FATHER RETIRED, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY RETIRED FROM THERE. KIRBY RETIRED AND WE RAISED FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, LIVING HERE IN NORCO.
Kirby 01:34:48:24
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR.
Grace 01:34:52:19
THEY ALWAYS TREATED HIM WELL, AND HE DID HIS WORK AND THEY APPRECIATED WHAT HE DID. HE'S GOT GOOD MEMORIES.
TITLE 01:35:14:15
Shell announces a buyout offer for two of the four streets in the Diamond Community and two streets in the predominantly white community of Norco
Margie Richard 01:35:25:18
IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE ACQUISITIONS OF REMAINING PROPERTIES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER FIRST, 2000, SHELL AND MOTIVA ARE OFFERING INCENTIVE TO FENCE LINE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WISH TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY. THIS OFFER IS AVAILABLE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, HAVING TITLES TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND VACANT LOTS ALONG WASHINGTON AND CATHY STREETS AND THE EAST SIDE OF NORCO AND GOOD HOPE STREETS IN NORCO. THAT'S TWO STREETS IN THE PREDOMINENTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD. ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS YOUR PROPERTY IS OR MAY BE LOCATED IN THE PROGRAM AREA.
Television Announcer (On TV) 01:36:10:05
THIS IS FOX 8 NEWS
Nancy, News Anchorperson (On TV) 01:36:12:15
GOOD EVENING. NEIGHBORS SAY IT MAKES THEM SICK, SHELL SAYS THE AIR QUALITY AROUND IT'S NORCO REFINERY IS SAFE.
Percy Hollins 01:36:18:02
HOW CAN IT BE SAFE?
Margie Richard 01:36:22:25
THEY DON'T LIVE HERE
Nancy, News Anchorperson (On TV) 01:36:18:12
NOW ONE EASY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS FOR SHELL TO BUY OUT IT'S NEIGHBORS. AS ANDREW LUCAS TELLS US, EVEN THAT HASN'T BEEN AN EASY PROCESS.
Andrew Lucas (On TV) 01:36:26:12
LAST WEEK NEIGHBORS THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD A DEADLINE FOR A NEW PLAN TO BUY UP THEIR HOMES.
THE COMPANY SAYS THEY MET THE DEADLINE AND RESOLUTION IS NEAR, RESIDENTS ARE STILL SKEPTICAL.
Don Baker (On TV) 01:36:35:25
WE HAVE SOME PLANS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS RIGHT NOW.
Margie 01:36:38:06
THERE HE IS.
Andrew (On TV) 01:36:38:16
DON BAKER IS WITH SHELL. HE SAYS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THE COMPANY WILL HAVE A NEW PROPOSAL TO BUY HOMES AT A MARKET PRICE.
Nancy (On TV) 01:36:46:03
THE RESIDENTS ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT AREAS, THAT THEY WANT TO PAY FOR, IS THAT RIGHT?
Andrew (On TV) 01:36:49:12
THAT, THAT IS ANOTHER DISPUTE. IN THE DIAMOND COMMUNITY THERE'S ABOUT 4 STREETS, THAT RESIDENTS WERE HOPING THAT NORCO WOULD BUY ALL THOSE STREETS, SHELL SAYS THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BUY 2 OF THOSE STREETS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING.
Percy 01:37:00:20
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVES AT 127 DIAMOND; I LIVE AT 218 CATHY. I WOULDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND LEAVE HER HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO STAY UNTIL THEY GIVE A COMMITTMENT TO BUY THE OTHER 2 STREETS. SIMPLY BECAUSE OF MY MOTHER IN LAW.
Margie 01:37:17:29
ONE THING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2 STREETS HAS DONE TO THE OTHER PEOPLE, THEY'VE LOST HOPE...
Percy 01:37:22:15
YES, RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT.
Margie 01:37:24:15
...BECAUSE SOME OF THEM SAYS, WHAT'S THE USE, THEY SAY WE CAN'T FIGHT SHELL, THEY'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO LEAVE US HERE.
Percy 01:37:34:17
IF THEY MOVE ME OUT AND MOVE YOU OUT AND, NO ONE WILL BE HERE TO CONTINUE MAKING NOISE ABOUT THE SITUATION.
David Brignac 01:37:47:18
WE HAVE NO INTENTIONS TO DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY. NOW, IF YOU WOULD BUY THE FOUR STREETS OF DIAMOND, WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO OFFER AN EQUIVALENT FOOTAGE OR AMOUNT OF PROPERTY ON OUR EAST SITE FENCELINE. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU’RE GETTING INTO A MASSIVE PROGRAM. MOVING, PERHAPS, A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, LITERALLY. AND THEN, YOU HAVE THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND WE DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AT ALL.
TITLE 01:38:17:10
The Diamond Community meets to discuss Shell's buyout offer
TITLE 01:38:36:29
Monique Harden
Attorney, Earthjustice
Monique Harden 01:38:34:25
WE, WE, WE SEE THAT THE ONLY REASON WHY SHELL HAS COME THIS FAR IN SAYING 'WE WILL OFFER RELOCATION' IS BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED SO WE KNOW THAT’S OUR POWER AND OUR STRENGTH, WE CAN’T LET THAT GO. AND WHEN WE BEGIN ACTING LIKE INDIVIDUALS THINKING IT’S JUST ME AND MYSELF AND NOBODY ELSE, SHELL WINS. IN THAT BUYOUT, SHELL WILL HAVE ITS LAWYERS AND ITS REAL ESTATE EXPERTS AND YOU WILL BE ALONE BY YOURSELF TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL. WHAT CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NORCO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IS RELOCATION, A JUST AND FAIR RELOCATION. WHAT SHELL IS SAYING IS WE WANT TO BUY YOUR PROPERTY. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. THE REASON WHY YOU WANT A JUST AND FAIR RELOCATION IS BECAUSE YOU’RE BEEN DAMAGED, YOU’VE BEEN HARMED. YOU’VE SEEN THE SOOT COVERING YOUR CARS, YOUR ROOFTOPS, YOU’VE BEEN SMELLING THOSE BAD ODORS, YOU’VE BEEN RUSHING YOUR CHILDREN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. SO A RELOCATION IS ONE THAT MAKES YOU WHOLE AGAIN, ONE THAT RESTORES YOU TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU ALL DESERVE. A BUYOUT ONLY GIVES YOU A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR YOUR PROPERTY AND SAYS GOODBYE.
Emelda West 01:39:37:02
DON’T ACCEPT A BUYOUT. PLEASE DON’T ACCEPT A BUYOUT. DON’T LET NOBODY COME AND OFFER YOU A FEW DOLLARS AND TELLING YOU, MAKING YOU BELIEVE THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH NOW WHEN THEY’VE BEEN KILLING YOU FOR THE PAST FORTY OR FIFTY YEARS.
TITLE 01:39:47:22
Emelda West, local activist
Emelda West 01:39:58:08
THANK YOU.
TITLE 01:40:15:24
Communities for a Better Environment press conference
Group Singing 01:40:00:29
NO MORE DYING THERE, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING.
OH, THEY’LL BE NO MORE DYING THERE; WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE KING. HALLELUIA, HALLELUIA, WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING.
TITLE 01:40:31:28
Anne Rolfes, Communities for a Better Environment
Anne Rolfes 01:40:22:22
THESE ARE FOUR SMALL STREETS OF HOUSES. I DON’T THINK IT’S UNREASONABLE TO ASK A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY TO BUY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CONTINUALLY SAY “FAIR MARKET VALUE.” AND THEY SAY SORRY YOUR HOUSE ISN’T WORTH A LOT. BUT, GOSH, I WONDER WHY IT’S NOT WORTH A LOT, LOOK WHAT’S NEXT DOOR.
Dr. Beverly Wright 01:40:40:29
AS BAD AS THINGS MAY LOOK, THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME THAT I’VE SEEN IN NORCO IN THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SHELL TALKING ABOUT RELOCATION. OUR FIGHT IS TO GET RELOCATION ON THE TERMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET IT… COULD SOMEBODY TELL ME IF THAT’S A WARNING…? SHOULD WE ALL BE RUNNING OR WHAT…
(Loud Siren + Horn)
Margie 01:41:05:12
WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY. AND IF YOU’RE SLEEPING YOU JUMP.
Dr. Wright 01:41:10:00
I’M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
Margie 01:41:12:00
THAT’S THE LUNCH WHISTLE.
TITLE 01:41:14:03
Dr. Beverly Wright
Director, Center for Environmental Justice
Dr. Wright 01:41:12:23
WE DID A HEALTH SURVEY IN THIS COMMUNITY ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A SELF-REPORTED HEALTH SURVEY WHICH MEANS THAT WE ASKED PEOPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND THEY TOLD US WHAT WAS AILING THEM. AND THE RESPONSES WERE ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING. APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ASTHMA. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT ASTHMA RATE FOR CHILDREN. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
Margie 01:41:41:09
OUR PARENTS MOVED TO THIS SECTION, NOT VERY FAR. NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE PLACED IN AN AREA THAT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENDED BY THE GROWTH OF AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT WAS PRODUCING AND MANUFACTURING POISONOUS GASES, POISONOUS SUBSTANCES THAT WERE GOING INTO THE AIR.
TWELVE-THIRTY AT NIGHT IT COMES OUT. SIX-THIRTY IN THE MORNING, IT’S IN THE AIR. IN THE EVENING, IT’S IN THE AIR.
WE’RE NOT STANDING UP TO DIVIDE; WE’RE STANDING UP TO UNITE. THANK YOU.
Denny 01:42:24:32
THANK YOU MARGIE.
Vickie Reneau 01:42:28:07
DADDY, COME ON, THE NEWS IS ON. COME ON, SIT DOWN, THE NEWS IS ON.
Grace Giroir 01:42:34:00
KIRBY, COME WATCH THE NEWS.
News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:36:03
…ABC 26’S CURTS BRYANT REPORTING LIVE, IN FOR MAY…
(News theme music on TV)
Second News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:44:19
HEAR WHY SOME NORCO NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING NO TO SHELL’S BUYOUT PLAN.
Kenny Reneau 01:42:47:08
FOR WHAT? WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE, WHAT WERE THEY MARCHING FOR?
Vickie 01:42:49:25
IN PROTEST… AS USUAL…
News Anchorperson (on TV) 01:42:55:00
TONIGHT, SOME NORCO NEIGHBORS SAY ‘NO FAIR’ TO SHELL’S LATEST PLAN TO BUY THEIR HOMES. SHELL SAYS THE PLAN IS NOTHING NEW, IT’S PART OF ITS GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. ABC 26’S DAWN OSTRUM REPORTS NEIGHBORS WANT SHELL TO RELOCATE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Dawn Ostrum (on TV) 01:43:10:03
DELORIS BROWN GREW UP IN THIS NORCO NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE TODAY SHE’S MARCHING, FIGHTING FOR SHELL CHEMICAL TO BUY HER ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD…
Vickie 01:43:16:17
I GUESS THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE WHO WE DON’T KNOW.
Kenny 01:43:18:14
SHHH. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE DEAL IS.
Dawn Ostrum (on TV) 01:43:18:12
…THE MARCH ENDED IN PRAYER ON THIS LOT WHERE IN 1973 TWO PEOPLE DIED FROM AN EXPLOSION. NEIGHBORS HERE IN DIAMOND SAY SHELL’S PLAN DIVIDES THEIR COMMUNITY, SEPARATES FAMILIES. SHELL SAYS THEIR PLAN ISN’T ABOUT DIVIDING AT ALL. THEY SAY IT’S ABOUT ALL OF NORCO MAKING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. SHELL SAYS IT WANTS PART OF DIAMOND AND PARTS OF NORCO…
Erin Rook 01:43:39:07
BUT ANYWAY, THEY’VE BEEN IN HERE FOR SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AND WHY DID THESE PEOPLE MOVE IN?
Vickie 01:43:35:21
THEY USED TO LIVE WHERE SHELL CHEMICAL IS NOW SITTING.
Kenny 01:43:49:00
SHELL BOUGHT THEM OUT AND BOUGHT THEM SOME STUFF OVER HERE.
Vickie 01:43:51:00
SHELL BOUGHT THEM OUT AND THEY BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
Dawn (on TV) 01:43:56:07
…THE COMPANY SAYS WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO STAY ANOTHER 75 YEARS. NEIGHBORS SAY THEY’RE SKEPTICAL.
Deloris Brown (on TV) 01:44:03:15
JUST SIT IT OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. GOD KNOWS BEST.
Kenny 01:44:07:09
SO THEY’RE GOING TO SIT IT OUT, HUH.
Dawn (on TV) 01:44:08:05
…IN NORCO, DAWN OSTRUM ABC 26 NEWS…
Vickie 01:44:08:30
THEY WANT ALL FOUR STREETS BOUGHT, NOT JUST TWO. THAT’S THE WHOLE BOTTOM LINE.
Kenny 01:44:11:15
SO THE BEEF IS THEY WANT FOUR STREETS BOUGHT AND SHELL JUST WANTS TO PUT A GREEN SPACE IN THE TWO STREETS. YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE A BEEF IF I’M LIVING ON THIS STREET AND MY MAMA’S LIVING ON FOUR STREETS OVER AND I CAN RELOCATE BUT SHE’S GOING TO HAVE HER HOUSE. YOU KNOW, THAT’S SORT OF A BEEF.
Vickie 01:44:28:01
WELL THAT’S SOME OF THE THINGS THEY’RE SAYING TOO THAT THEIR MOTHERS MAY HAVE TO MOVE AND THEY WON’T OR THEY HAVE TO MOVE AND THEIR MOTHERS WON’T AND THEY’RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PARENTS.
Sal Digirolamo 01:44:43:14
ONE THING I DONT LIKE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BEING DONE ON PURPOSE, IS THE TOWN OF NORCO BEING PULLED IN WITH A FENCELINE PROBLEM. THAT THEY THINK IT'S A PROBLEM. MARGIE, MARGIE IS A LEADER. IF SHE BELIEVES IN WHAT SHE'S DOING SHE'S GONNA FIGHT HARD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM. HER AND I GET ALONG PRETTY GOOD. I STAND FOR WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT, SHE STANDS FOR WHAT SHE THINKS IS RIGHT. I DONT ALWAYS, VERY SELDOM WE AGREE ON SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
Margie Richard 01:45:22:26
THE ORGANIZATION CORPORATE WATCH HEARD ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES AND INVITED ME TO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN HOLLAND. SINCE THE TOP MANAGERS OF SHELL WERE GOING TO SPEAK AT THE CONFERENCE, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS.
Margie 01:45:47:18
OH MY GOD, BUT LOOK AT IT.
Percy 01:45:54:09
THAT IS SOME NOISE TO BE LISTENING TO EVERY DAY.
Margie 01:45:56:13
THAT’S WHY WE TELL THEM. IT’S NOT JUST THE ODORS IT’S THE NOISE TOO.
Percy 01:46:03:09
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS SAMPLE HERE?
Margie 01:46:05:22
I’M GOING TO DEMONSTRATE IN HOLLAND AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING IN ORDER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR OURSELVES TO GET CLEANER AIR. I WANT TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE PERSON WHO IS ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE DUTCH ROYAL COMPANY THAT BUILT IN OUR GOOD TOWN WHICH HAS NOW BEEN DESTROYED.
(Music)
Airplane Announcement 01:46:38:27
WE INVITE YOU NOW TO PLEASE SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY OUR SIX HOUR AND SIXTEEN MINUTE FLIGHT EN ROUTE TO AMSTERDAM.
(Music)
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:47:21:01
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE C.E.M. EXECUTIVE BOARD ACTUALLY SETTLES ON A WAY TO CALCULATE BASELINE.
TITLE 01:47:27:11
Shell Presentation
UN conference on Climate Change
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:47:27:11
FOR EXAMPLE, USING A BENCHMARKING APPROACH IN THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR. WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THEM BUT AT LEAST WE…
Woman 01:47:36:22
CAN WE MAKE A QUESTION PLEASE?
Moderator 01:47:38:01
THERE WAS TWO, TWO PEOPLE HANGING FROM LAST TIME. SORRY, IS THIS A QUESTION?
Margie Richard 01:47:43:06
YES, IT IS A QUESTION. I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE TRUE TO WHAT YOU SAY ON PAPER. I AM A COMMUNITY PERSON. AND NOT JUST IN NORCO, LOUSIANA. ARE YOU GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE? NOW I KNOW THIS LOOKS STRANGE BUT THIS IS THE BAG THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT. THIS IS A SAMPLE OF THE AIR THAT’S BEEN TRAPPED.
Moderator 01:48:06:17
SORRY, YOU SAID YOU’D ASK A QUESTION…
Margie 01:48:08:14
MY QUESTION IS… I CAN TALK… MY QUEST… BE QUIET… MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO BE TRUE TO WHAT YOU SAY ON PAPER ABOUT CLEANER AIR AND BEING FAIR AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR? I’M SPEAKING TO SHELL BECAUSE I LIVE SEVENTEEN FEET AWAY FROM THE FENCELINE. AND I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. IT’S A PATTERN; THIS IS THE WATER…
Moderator 01:48:31:25
FIRST OF ALL, LET HIM ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THEN YOU CAN EXCHANGE GIFTS.
Margie 01:48:34:13
YES, SIR, SURE.
Moderator 01:48:36:09
ROBERT…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:48:37:28
I KNOW THAT THERE IS ISSUES AROUND THE NORCO REFINERY. I KNOW THERE IS ISSUES ELSEWHERE. WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE BUT AT THIS FORUM I’M JUST NOT CAPABLE OF ANSWERING ANY OF THE DETAILED QUESTIONS. BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE’LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU; WE’LL BE WORKING ON IT.
Margie 01:48:53:10
YES, BECAUSE I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE FOR THIS AND IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I’D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A GIFT OF THE AIR AND…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:48:59:29
CAN I BREATHE IT?
Margie 01:49:01:09
I WOULDN’T TAKE THE CHANCE. WE’RE BREATHING IT EVERY DAY.
Margie 01:49:07:01
…THIS IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME. THE STRUGGLE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWELVE YEARS. AND I AM PRESIDENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NORCO AND WE ASK…
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:21:11
RIGHT. ARE YOU MARGIE RICHARDS?
Margie 01:49:22:17
YES.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:23:04
OKAY.
Margie 01:49:23:13
SO, MY BIGGEST DREAM AND HOPE FOR COMING HERE IS TO SEE THE TOP PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY OF THE ROYAL DUTCH OWNERS.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:34:09
RIGHT.
Margie 01:49:35:01
WITH THE HOPES THAT THEY WOULD HEAR OUR CRY.
Robert (Shell Representative) 01:49:37:28
THE RIGHT PEOPLE AREN’T HERE. SO I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER IF YOU’D GET IN TOUCH WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
Margie 01:49:42:10
WELL, WHO ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE?
TITLE 1:49:51:03
Nine months later
TITLE 01:49:54:06
Mardi Gras Parade
LaPlace, Louisiana
Margie Richard 01:49:57:24
THE TRIP TO HOLLAND DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FROM THE HEADQUARTERS IN HOLLAND, THE MESSAGE WAS SENT TO THE LOCAL CHEMICAL PLANT IN NORCO. LATER ON, A FIELD PERSON FROM HOLLAND DID COME DOWN TO NORCO TO DISCUSS AND LOOK INTO OUR ISSUE. THEN THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION WAS OPEN AND BECAME BETTER WITH THE LOCAL PLANT.
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PACKAGE PROGRAM WAS UPGRADED AND, TODAY, THE PEOPLE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO RELOCATE WITHOUT GOING INTO DEBT OR GOING UNDER.
THE STRUGGLE AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, FOR ME, WILL NEVER END. WE’RE NOT WE SHOULD BE BUT WE’RE NOT WHERE WE WERE IN THE PAST.
TITLE 01:51:03:18
Diamond Community, July 2002
TITLE 01:51:22:29
In June 2002, Shell extended its offer to include all four streets of the Diamond Community and reached an agreement with the Concerned Citizens of Norco.
TITLE 01:51:31:12
Shell maintains that Norco is a good place to live.
CREDITS 01:51:37:17
Produced by
Slawomir Grünberg
&
Jane Greenberg
Directed by
Slawomir Grünberg
Editor
Brian Truglio
Photography
Slawomir Grünberg
Sound Brian Truglio
Associate Producer
Brain Truglio
Assistant Editor
William Doll
Additional Sound
Jane Greenberg
Post Production Associate
William Doll
Website Coordinator
Jason Brantman
Still Photography
Thom Scott
Interns
Antonio Andrade
Claudia de Macedo Davis
Lyla Miller
Rachel Smith
Carolyn Tennant
Closed Captioning
Pillar to Post
Treat me Right Too
Slow and Easy
Celeste Waltz
Cooper Shuffel
Written and Performed by
Tony Delafose and Friends
Consultants
Dr. Paul Templet
Prof. Oliver Houck
Prof. Elaine Leeder
Dr. Frederick Kaufman
Dr. Marlene Barken
Special Thanks
John Biers - Daniel Blake - David Brignac - Rosemary Brown - Milton Cambre - Janie Campbell - Travis Chiasson - Children's Hospital - Communities for a Better Environment - Concerned Citizens of Norco - Corporate Watch - Hazel Davis - Rebecca Dayries - The Deep South Center - The Digirolamo Family - Earthjustice - George Eugene - Lily Galland - Dr. A. Joanne Cates - Monique Harden - Barbara Helhurt-Evans - The Hollins Family - John Hoskyns-Abrahall - Dorothy Jenkins - Otha Johnsom
Denny Larson - Louisiana Environmental Action Network - Barbara Martin - Armend Matherne, Jr - Patricia Melancon - Marylee Orr - The Reneau Family - Anne Rolfes - Margie Richard - The River Road Museum - St. James Concerned Citizens for Jobs & Environment - Shell Chemical Co., Norco - Bessy Smith - Juanita Stewart - Wilma Subra - Jeff Thomas - Mickey Tsapis, Beam Travel - Joann Turley - Sis Webb - Emelda West - Dr. Beverly Wright
Produced in association with the Independent Television Service. This program was produced by LOGTV, Ltd., which is solely responsible for its content.