A rarely held hearing on Louisiana economic development this week led to renewed debate over the balance between industry and environmental concerns, with community activists and officials from Gov. Jeff Landry's administration disagreeing sharply.

Required by state law for Louisiana agencies every six years, the hearing in Baton Rouge was meant for public comment on specific rules issued by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

A handful of environmentalists and community activists argued that a decades-long emphasis on heavy industry has placed a pollution burden on largely minority fenceline communities without the promised financial gains. Economic Development officials responded later that their policies were bringing jobs and opportunities to those very communities.

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