LITTLE ROCK — Opponents of a new steel mill under construction in eastern Arkansas say that the plant should be stopped even if the state has already given its owners a permit.
Attorneys for Nucor Steel on Friday defended their lawsuit against the $1.3 billion Big River Steel mill in northeast Arkansas. Big River Steel has tried to have the lawsuit dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes did not immediately rule Friday on whether to let the case proceed.
Big River Steel attorney Mark DeLaquil accused Nucor of trying to go around the state after losing its months-long battle to prevent the permit. Nucor attorney David Taggart countered that the state-issued permit would endanger Nucor's business and employees at its existing mill 20 miles away.
Big River Steel broke ground in September.