The public will get a formal opportunity next week to weigh in on the proposed Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel mill as state regulators hold a hearing on the project’s air permit application just days before the company breaks ground on the multibillion-dollar facility.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will host the public hearing at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the Lemann Center in Donaldsonville, just before the project’s ceremonial groundbreaking set for Sept. 4.
Written comments also may be submitted online or by mail and must be received by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 2.
“The September 1 public hearing is part of LDEQ’s air permitting process. The ceremonial groundbreaking and the air permitting process are separate matters,” Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel said in an email to Ascension Business Report. “We have made every effort to ensure that our project meets environmental standards and complies with all applicable regulatory requirements. We respect the permitting process and will continue to follow all required procedures as it moves forward.”
Environmental group Good Neighbors Louisiana Coalition, whose members include the United Steelworkers, the Sunrise Community Group of Donaldsonville, the Sierra Club and the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, argues the draft air permit does not do enough to protect community and worker health.
The coalition contends the application fails to consider fully electrifying the plant’s finishing processes, which it says would significantly reduce pollution. It also argues the permit lacks adequate controls for toxic dust, provides few details about carbon capture and sequestration plans, and does not establish a credible timeline for transitioning from methane gas to zero-emissions green hydrogen in the ironmaking process.
“Now that they’ve amended their application following months of community pressure, they can’t feign ignorance that cleaner, better technology is available,” Sierra Club Delta Chapter Chair Angelle Bradford Rosenberg said in a statement. “We won’t stop campaigning until we secure legally binding commitments to the use of that technology.”
The project’s latest air permit application reflects several changes from the version submitted in January, including:
- Replacing nine natural gas-fired industrial heaters with electric heaters.
- Installing selective catalytic reduction systems in the direct reduction plant and cold rolling mill to further reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
- Adding 12 ultra-low NOx burners to the steel manufacturing process.
- Enhancing particulate matter control systems with improved dust collection efficiency.
LDEQ provided the public with a 30-day review period for the roughly 2,150-page permit application. Coalition members asked the agency to extend the comment period to 60 days, though state rules require only a minimum 30-day notice.
Good Neighbors Louisiana will hold a press conference at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the parking lot of the Lemann Center before the public hearing begins. Several coalition members are expected to testify during the hearing.
Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan voiced his support for the air permit during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, reading the comments he submitted to LDEQ. Sullivan emphasized the importance of a thorough permitting process while stressing that economic development must go hand in hand with environmental stewardship and the protection of public health.
“A strong and transparent regulatory process is essential. It provides protection for our communities while also establishing a clear and responsible path forward for projects that demonstrate compliance with applicable environmental laws and standards,” Sullivan read. “Louisiana should not have to choose between protecting our environment and creating economic opportunity for our people. We should respect and demand both responsible industrial development and strengthen our communities, expand our tax bases, create quality jobs, support local businesses, and provide new opportunities for future generations while maintaining appropriate environmental safeguards.”
Community outreach
Before the public hearing, Hyundai will host a community open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lemann Center.
The company said the event is intended to give residents and local stakeholders accurate information about the project while providing an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. Topics will include environmental protection and safety, jobs and workforce development, economic impact, and the company’s commitment to the local community.
Since December, Hyundai has held roughly a dozen small-group meetings in Modeste and has joined the West Ascension Community Advisory Panel, participating in bimonthly meetings with community representatives.
“The purpose of the August 27 Community Open House is to provide residents and local stakeholders with accurate information about the project and, importantly, to listen directly to their questions and concerns,” HPLS said in an email. “The event will provide opportunities to discuss topics including environmental protection and safety, jobs and workforce development, economic impact, and HPLS’s commitment to the local community.”
Following the Sept. 4 groundbreaking, the company will host a community day from 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Louisiana Square in Donaldsonville.
