As per news sources, a cloudy, rust-coloured plume, roughly the size of a football field, was discharged from the Atalco alumina refinery into the Mississippi River last week, raising fresh alarm over environmental oversight at the nation’s only operating alumina refinery. State records show the discharge was “dangerously caustic” and well above federal limits, extending a month-long trend of non-compliance at the facility.
A pattern of persistent breaches
Located around 45 miles west of New Orleans, Atalco converts bauxite into alumina for aluminium production. Even so, even with this critical industrial role, it has faced heightened scrutiny for repeated toxic discharges and workplace safety lapses.
Aerial images taken on October 21, 2025, showed white alumina residue and swirling discolouration beside the refinery docks. Environmental advocates said the discharges resembled previous contamination events. “For years, we have watched Atalco dump into the Mississippi River. They are not investing enough in their own operation to prevent this product loss,” said Scott Eustis of Healthy Gulf.