US court rejects Denka appeal over new environmental rules

La Place, Louisiana – A US appeals court has rejected an ‘emergency motion to stay’ by Denka Performance Elastomer (DPE) regarding accelerated compliance of strengthened air toxics regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In a brief order published 26 June, the US court of appeals for the district of Columbia circuit said DPE had not “satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review.”

Denka filed the emergency motion in May against the EPA and its administrator Michael Regan to stop what it described as a "politically motivated" 90-day compliance period for new standards.

The new standards were introduced by EPA in early April, imposing controls around the production of over 200 chemicals in the US, including chloroprene rubber which DPE produces.

See also: Denka mulling ‘comprehensive measures’ for chloroprene rubber business.