"Two environmental groups have challenged the air pollution permit for a $750 million iron plant in southwestern Louisiana, which is the first project that was approved under the greenhouse gas regulations that were implemented by U.S. EPA in January.

The petition, which was filed yesterday by the Sierra Club and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, asks EPA to throw the brakes on a $3.4 billion complex being developed in southeastern Louisiana by Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor Corp.

The groups argue that when the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality signed off on a final permit for the direct reduced iron (DRI) plant in late January, it was required to combine the project with a pig iron plant that got approval from state regulators last year. Their petition also claims that the amount of greenhouse gases the plant would be allowed to release is 'considerably higher' than it should be."

Gabriel Nelson reports for Greenwire May 4, 2011. [2]