Activists seek temporary halt to work at proposed Formosa complex in St. James Parish

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Groups fighting a $9.4 billion Formosa Plastics complex proposed for St. James Parish asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to halt the project temporarily pending a review on whether the project needs a deeper environmental evaluation.

The plaintiffs allege the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to adequately consider the project's impact on historic grave sites that may hold the remains of enslaved African-Americans, as well as the potential impact on future flooding, hurricane surge resistance, air pollution and other concerns.

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The plaintiffs include the Center of Biological Diversity and the local community group Rise St. James. The District of Columbia federal court that is handling their lawsuit has often required additional review work by the Corps.

The plaintiffs originally sued the Corps over the complex's wetlands permit in January.  Among their demands, they asked the judge to force the agency to do a more-detailed environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The latest filing Tuesday asks a judge to halt construction until a decision can be made on the broader litigation.

After delays this spring due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and extended high water in the Mississippi River, the Formosa affiliate behind the project, FG LA LLC, announced last month it planned to resume construction and also to start widening 2.5 miles of state highway near the proposed facility.

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 built, the complex will be one of the largest plastics complexes in world, making the building blocks for everyday consumer items and, in the process, employing 1,200 people and bringing in tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state and local governments.

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