Judge Grants Extension In Big River Steel Case

Calling a lawsuit filed by Nucor Steel “lengthy and complicated,” a federal judge on Wednesday gave attorneys for Big River Steel an additional 28 days to respond to the suit.

According to a one-page order signed by U.S. District Judge J. Leon Holmes, the attorneys for Big River Steel asked for the extension in light of the suit filed by Nucor in federal court on Aug. 11.

Nucor filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Jonesboro, alleging that a $1.3 billion steel mill being built south of Osceola by Big River Steel would violate the federal Clean Air Act.

Nucor, which is based in the Charlotte area, has stressed its opposition to the project at the legislative and environmental agency level.

In the suit, Nucor alleged that emissions from the new steel mill would hurt the health of Nucor employees.

“Nucor has a practical, economic interest in maintaining a healthy, contented and motivated workforce as well as a pool of healthy potential employees having healthy employees and a healthy potential workforce pool, minimizes the amount of time Nucor employees miss at work, due to illness thus preventing scheduling issues, missed shifts, sick leave and other losses,” the attorneys said in the suit.

However, Holmes said in his order that the issue needs a full vetting.

“Big River Steel, LLC has moved for an extension of time to respond to the complaint, requesting an extension of twenty eight days to respond to the complaint. Nucor Steel Arkansas and Nucor Yamato Steel Company oppose the request, arguing that construction on a large steel manufacturing facility is ongoing and with each passing day, more resources are poured into the construction of the facility,” Holmes wrote. “The complaint in this case is lengthy and complicated. The request for an extension of time of twenty-eight days in the context of this case is reasonable. No harm to the plaintiff will be caused by the extension.”

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project is expected on Sept. 22 at the site.