Many of the clinic s cases deal with plant locations along the Mississippi River. The section of the Mississippi River from Baton Rogue to New Orleans is often referred to as Cancer Alley because of the numerous chemical plants located there. Over 20 percent of the nation s chemicals are produced in this short section of the Mississippi River, which makes zoning new chemical plants in this area a major concern. Besides taking on legal cases, the clinic also offers environmental education for the public. The Community Outreach program is designed to educate and organize the public and acts as one of the most important tools of the clinic.
Many communities are unaware of the serious environmental problems they face.
After learning to identify these problems, communities must learn how to document what is happening and report the problem to the proper authorities. The clinic helps conduct workshops in environmental awareness. They assist people who are asking for grants, help make flyers for meetings or events, show people where to look for permit notices, and answer questions regarding the restrictions on certain permits. The clinic often acts as a resource for information since they have the ability to find out current and accurate information quickly. The clinic often helps people who phone in simple questions, such as whether or not they will be harmed by the pesticides being spraying on nearby farms.