The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued a final air permit yesterday for Hyundai Steel’s planned facility in Donaldsonville. The South Korean company had previously committed to developing a state-of-the-art, environmentally clean operation, but environmental advocates contend the approved permit does not adequately reflect those commitments.
Throughout 2026, the Sierra Club and allied organizations submitted extensive comments to LDEQ regarding potential deficiencies in the permit application. In response to these submissions, Hyundai made certain modifications to its plans, including electrification of some facility components intended to reduce emissions. However, critics argue the final permit fails to mandate additional pollution-reduction measures such as further electrification or incorporation of green hydrogen technology. The permit also does not require deployment of best-available technology for controlling toxic particulate matter, according to the objections raised.
LDEQ determined the facility would generate no adverse environmental impacts, a finding that prompted the agency to forgo conducting an environmental justice analysis. This conclusion proved particularly significant given that Ascension Parish, where the facility would be located, currently experiences toxic pollution concentrations exceeding levels found in 96 percent of other U.S. regions. Notably, Hyundai initially included but subsequently removed an environmental justice analysis from its own permit application. Additionally, LDEQ did not conduct independent comparative analysis of alternative locations that might pose reduced risks to adjacent communities.
Matthew Miles Goodrich, director of the Sierra Club’s Industrial Transformation Campaign, stated the company had made improvements in response to public pressure but needed to pursue more aggressive pollution reduction through expanded electrification and formal commitment to green hydrogen use. He noted that South Korea’s government has committed substantial resources to developing clean industrial technologies domestically, questioning why Hyundai would not deploy similar technologies in one of America’s most polluted communities. Sierra Club representatives indicated they are reviewing the permit and considering potential legal actions and subsequent steps.
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