A public hearing over the Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel’s proposed air permit lasted more than four hours Tuesday night in Donaldsonville, with supporters touting the project’s economic benefits and opponents warning the steel mill would add pollution to communities already burdened by industrial emissions.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality held the hearing on the draft air permit for the company’s proposed $5.8 billion steel mill at Ascension Parish’s RiverPlex MegaPark. The project is expected to create 1,300 direct jobs and more than 4,000 indirect jobs.
Supporters described the development as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create careers, strengthen local businesses and drive economic growth on the parish’s west bank.
More than 60 people addressed LDEQ during the hearing. Those speaking in support included Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment, state Sen. Rick Edmonds, state Rep. Jeff Wiley, Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership acting co-CEO Jayson Newell, Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan, as well as other elected officials, local business owners and area residents.
Opponents included several Modeste residents and representatives of environmental organizations, including the Good Neighbors Coalition and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade.
Cointment said he visited Hyundai’s steel facility in South Korea and came away convinced the proposed Modeste plant would set a new standard for steel manufacturing.
“The technology currently in use is undeniably impressive, but the planned $5.8 billion facility at the RiverPlex MegaPark would go even further in limiting emissions,” he said. “We’re looking at an operation that will fully revolutionize industrial production in the United States. This is a completely new generation of American steel making.”
Mark Dearman of PSC Group said industrial development has long fueled Ascension Parish’s economy when done responsibly.
“Responsible industrial development has helped create the economic engine that has driven Ascension Parish’s growth for generations,” he said. “Hyundai represents that opportunity to continue building on that foundation.”
Opponents questioned the project’s potential health impacts, whether local residents would ultimately benefit from the promised jobs and whether the public had sufficient time to review the 2,165-page draft permit.
Shamell Lavigne, chief operating officer of RISE St. James, said Modeste and Donaldsonville already shoulder a significant pollution burden. She cited the project’s proposed annual emissions of 196 tons of fine particulate matter, 336 tons of sulfur dioxide and 824 tons of nitrogen oxides.
“Our communities are being asked to trust a process that has not earned that trust,” Lavigne said. “Residents deserve clear answers about emissions, toxic chemicals, particulate matter, emergency notifications and the promised green technology.”
Sharon White, a lifelong resident of the Modeste area who lives within 2 miles of the proposed site, said economic development should be judged by whether longtime residents are healthier, safer and able to remain on family property.
“Our communities are more than a location on an industrial map,” White said. “For generations, families on the west bank have built their lives there.”
LDEQ did not make a decision Tuesday. The agency will review public comments before determining whether to issue the permit. The public comment period closes at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
While no deadline has been announced for a final decision, Louisiana law requires LDEQ to issue a final decision on an air permit within 300 processing days. The review timeline varies based on the project’s complexity, public comments and any required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review. HPLS is scheduled to hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on Sept. 4.
