Big River Steel Gets OK for Preliminary Construction

Big River Steel, in Osceola, Ark., moved a step closer to construction with the removal of a construction stay by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

The air permit for the facility has not yet been approved but the lifting of the stay will allow the preliminary construction phase to begin. The permit was provisionally granted on Sept 18, 2013 but subsequently challenged by Nucor in the basis that the application process had insufficient and incorrect data and the AEDQ did not have adequate time to properly review the air quality concerns surrounding the proposed plant. A hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Feb 18 on the appeal for the air permit.