BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A nearly $6 billion steel manufacturing project is moving forward in Ascension Parish, but some residents are raising concerns about what the massive facility could mean for the environment and surrounding communities.
Hyundai Steel is building a new steel manufacturing facility on about 1,700 acres at RiverPlex MegaPark in Modeste, Louisiana. The $5.8 billion project will be Hyundai Motor Group’s first steel production facility in North America and is designed to supply automotive steel for the company’s U.S. manufacturing operations.
The facility is expected to produce about 2.7 million metric tons of steel annually using electric arc furnace technology. Louisiana Economic Development says the process is expected to produce about 70% fewer emissions than traditional blast furnace technology.
The project is also expected to have a major economic impact on the region.
Hyundai Steel estimates the facility will create more than 1,300 direct jobs, while Louisiana Economic Development estimates about 4,100 additional indirect jobs could be created, for roughly 5,400 total potential job opportunities in the Capital Region. The state previously said the direct jobs were expected to have an average salary of about $95,000.
But in order for the project to move forward, Hyundai needs an air pollution permit from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
That permit brought more than 100 people to a special public hearing, where residents and supporters had the opportunity to speak about the project.
Some residents, including Mike McClanahan, said residents have not had enough of a voice in the process and called on Hyundai to be more transparent with the community.
“Let us know what you’re going to do, be good neighbors. If not, you’re going to see us every single time the place opens up,” said McClanahan.
Among the concerns raised by residents are the potential environmental impact of the steel plant, the long-term effects on families living nearby, and whether the jobs created by the project will go to area residents.
One resident said community members want the state to impose stronger environmental standards than those currently included in the proposed air permit.
“We’re calling on the state to hold them to higher standards than what are in this air permit, but we’re calling on them to actually sit down and negotiate those details directly with us and with residents,” said Jacob Horwitz.
Hyundai representatives said the company understands the concerns and hopes the public hearing, along with additional meetings, can help answer residents’ questions.
“When we talk about what our goals are as a company, it’s to be a good neighbor and listening is the first step,” said Stephanie Malin, Senior Manager of Media Relations.
The company says working with residents can help build trust and find common ground on issues including hiring, environmental protection, and other community concerns.
“That only helps us to find common ground and to work together. So that we can ensure that we’re hiring people in the community, and we can make sure we’re protecting the environment, and we can ensure we’re addressing those concerns that everybody in the community has,” said Malin.
There’s no expected timeline as to when the DEQ will make a decision on the permit.
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