A U.S. federal agency plans to reassess the environmental permit for Hyundai’s Georgia plant after a conservation group raised concerns about the potential impact on the region’s water supply, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Aug. 26.
According to AP, the Army Corps of Engineers stated in an Aug. 23 letter that state and local agencies seeking the 2022 permit for the project did not disclose Hyundai’s plan to withdraw up to 6.6 million gallons (25 million liters) of water per day from a key underground aquifer. This information came to light earlier this year as Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division reviewed a proposal for four new wells to supply the factory.
As a result, the Army Corps will revisit its earlier conclusion that the project would have “negligible impacts.” The reassessment follows a June notice from the Ogeechee Riverkeeper conservation group, which threatened legal action if the permit was not reconsidered.
Despite the reassessment, the Army Corps has not ordered any delays or interruptions to the ongoing construction at the plant. “At this time, the permit is still valid, and we have not requested that the permittee stop work,” Cheri Dragos-Pritchard, a spokesperson for the Corps’ Savannah District, told AP via email. The duration of the additional review is currently unknown.
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the name for Hyundai’s Georgia factory, stated on Aug. 26 that it will fully cooperate with the Army Corps to provide the necessary information. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring that its operations do not negatively impact the community’s water resources.
Hyundai aims to begin production at the Bryan County site, which will produce electric vehicles and batteries, in October, with plans to employ 8,000 workers. However, the project could face delays if the environmental reassessment requires further review.
