Plaintiffs ask federal court to block rushed federal permit for ammonia plant on former plantation land in Modeste, Louisiana

July 2, 2026, Washington D.C. – Residents of Louisiana's River Parishes today asked a federal court to block an expedited federal permit for a construction project that threatens the gravesites of their enslaved ancestors. The plaintiffs – Rural Roots Louisiana, Mount Triumph Baptist Church, and Pastor Harry Joseph, Jr. – seek a temporary restraining order that would enjoin the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing an expedited permit to CF Industries, which aims to build an ammonia factory on former plantation land in the historic predominantly Black community of Modeste, until the court holds a hearing. Administration officials have boasted that the Army Corps had moved the permit at “Trump speed.” 

The ammonia factory would be part of a proposed “RiverPlex MegaPark,” a 17,000-acre industrial development that would displace hundreds of people and compound the already severe health risks for thousands of residents in the heart of Cancer Alley. Because the ammonia factory would impact wetlands, it requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The plaintiffs sued the Corps in April, demanding that it issue a cease-a-desist order to CF Industries to halt the construction activities taking place prior to the issuance of a final permit. The temporary restraining order would maintain the status quo while the lawsuit proceeds. 

“Every day, we see dump trucks, bulldozers, and heavy equipment cut through our community in a rush to build this new plant,” said Twila Collins, a Modeste resident who also submitted a declaration in support of the temporary restraining order. “I’ve even had contractors show up uninvited on my property. If they have no respect for those of us who live here, it’s hard to believe they will have any respect for our ancestors buried here.”

"For decades, this area was protected as conservation land with historic significance, sacred burial sites, and the families who have called it home for generations,” said Ashley Gaignard, founder of Rural Roots Louisiana. “We are deeply concerned that those protections are being dismantled to make way for heavy industry in the middle of Black residential communities. Our concerns have been dismissed while state leaders characterize community opposition as an obstacle to economic development. Industry should never come at the expense of our history, our health, or our right to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect our future. We refuse to accept a future where our ancestors' legacy is erased and our air and water are treated as expendable. Our communities deserve investment that protects both people and the places they have cherished for generations."

Elsewhere in Cancer Alley, corporations have built – and are seeking to build – factories on land containing the gravesites of people who were forced to work and die on plantations. The destruction of these sacred sites has caused trauma for descendants in the area, which is precisely what the plaintiffs are experiencing as they witness the disruption of grounds they know are home to the final resting places of their enslaved ancestors. Absent injunctive relief, the Corps will soon issue the permit, inflicting irreversible harm on the plaintiffs. 

“The Corps of Engineers needs to do their job and find the gravesites we know are on that property,” said Harry Joseph, Jr., a local resident and pastor of Mount Triumph Baptist Church. “That is our history and those are our ancestors and we want to know where they are and what the Corps is going to do to protect them.”

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires federal agencies to undertake a review of the impact of their decisions on historical properties. Guidance from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which advises agencies on NHPA compliance, says they must treat human remains with respect and instructs them to consider the legacy of slavery. The review process must include a consultation with impacted parties. Although the Corps granted Rural Roots “consulting party status,” it did not actually consult with the group before issuing its final determination that the construction would have no adverse effects on historic properties.  

“Corporations profiting from the construction of these polluting facilities should not be allowed to bulldoze the rights, history, and health of community members in Modeste,” said Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.  “Instead of following the law, state and federal officials are fast-tracking approvals for the Riverplex MegaPark, prioritizing polluter profits over the health and wellbeing of the people.”

Moreover, the plaintiffs argue that the Thirteenth Amendment – which was intended to abolish slavery and its remnants, or “badges and incidents” – requires the Corps to locate and protect the gravesites likely situated on the land prior to allowing any construction on such sites. The burial grounds that hold the remains of people who perished in bondage are clear remnants of slavery. 

“On the eve of the 250th anniversary of this country, people from this community are trying desperately to protect their history from erasure and the graves of enslaved ancestors from corporate greed aided by the misdirection and complicity of federal officials,” said Pam Spees, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. 

The motion for a temporary restraining order was filed on the plaintiffs’ behalf by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Environmental Integrity Project, and Louisiana attorney William P. Quigley. In addition to asking the court to block the permit, the motion requests that it rescind the Corps’ No Effects determination.

For more information, visit the Center for Constitutional Rights case page.

About Rural Roots Louisiana: At Rural Roots Louisiana, we believe in the strength of local communities and in our youth. Our mission is to empower residents through sustainable initiatives that promote growth and resilience. We emphasize youth engagement, empowering our kids through advocacy and initiatives that promote leadership.

About Mt. Triumph Baptist Church: Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, located in St. James Parish, is known as the “little church with the big heart.” Pastor Harry Joseph is the pastor of the church, which was founded in 1909.

About the Environmental Integrity Project: The Environmental Integrity Project is America’s environmental watchdog. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting public health and our natural world by holding polluters and government agencies accountable under the law. We advocate for tough but fair environmental standards and empower communities fighting for clean air and clean water.