Ogeechee Riverkeeper wants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “present” its work on the impacts of water withdrawals on the 2,500-acre site.
Despite the impending launch of new electric vehicles from Hyundai’s massive Ellabell plant by year’s end, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday agreed to reevaluate Hyundai’s site permit.
In a letter dated August 23, 2024, the Corps requested additional information on water use from the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, which jointly obtained approval for the 2,500-acre site on I-16.
The permit is still valid and the Corps has not requested a halt to work at the Hyundai construction site, Cheri Pritchard, spokeswoman for the Savannah District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, wrote in an email.
“Based on new information recently received, we are re-evaluating the project’s impacts on water supplies, including considering potential secondary effects that could result from additional pressures on groundwater, as well as any impact this determination would have on our permitting decision,” Pritchard wrote.
The Ogeechee Riverkeeper prompted the Corps to take a second look by filing a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over alleged deficiencies in permits for the site in June. Corps representatives met with Ogeechee Riverkeeper Damon Mullis and the group’s attorneys on August 9.
“We’re glad that our efforts were able to result in this re-evaluation,” said Ben Kirsch, legal director for the Ogeechee Riverkeeper. “But all of this could have been avoided. And we wish it had been included in the original permit application so that these issues could have been addressed before wetlands were filled and buildings were constructed. But you know, we’re glad that the Corps can finally see this information and make some decisions on it.”
The company initially concluded that the project “would have negligible impacts on municipal and private water supplies and that no water abstraction permits would be required from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Protection (Georgia EPD).” The agency based its decision on information provided by the JDA and the Georgia Department of Economic Development in its permit application.
But in July, state regulators released draft permits for four wells in the Florida Aquifer in Bulloch County that together would supply the Hyundai Metaplant and related projects with 6.6 million gallons of water per day.
“Based on the release of the Georgia EPD’s draft permits, the Corps has determined that new information has emerged regarding the project’s potential impacts on municipal and private water supplies and that a reevaluation of our permit decision with respect to our determination of impacts to water supplies is warranted,” the Corps’ letter states.
Similarly, the Riverkeeper commented on the site permit before it was finalized in 2022, but only recently turned its focus more strongly to the water issue when those concerns came to light during the well permitting process – which is the jurisdiction of the Georgia EPD, not the Corps.
“We submitted comments previously and were concerned about a perceived lack of information, but … you have to take the Corps’ decision at face value,” Kirsch said. “When they say they don’t see a problem with the water supply based on the application materials, you have to believe them until the facts suggest a different result.”
The wells are controversial in Bulloch, a county whose nearly 700 miles of dirt roads and nearly 200,000 acres of farmland do not illustrate the rapid development that is about to take place there. EPD estimates that the wells could sink nearby wells by as much as 19 feet and is calling for the establishment of an equalization fund to compensate well owners harmed by the Hyundai project.
The company is now calling on development authorities to “describe their work” regarding the quantities of water needed and the impact of withdrawals on groundwater and other water bodies.
“(P)least provide an assessment of the impacts the project could have on municipal and private water supplies, including whether the expected drawdown of the Floridan Aquifer would result in dewatering of water resources,” the letter states. “This assessment should include any groundwater and surface water models/data collected on this topic. Please note: Should the Company determine that the Project would have additional impacts on water resources, the Company may amend the permit to include special conditions to offset these impacts.”
The Ogeechee Riverkeeper also wants to see the assumptions behind the conclusions.
“Even with the other drilling processes and the EPD drilling permit, there are many conclusions that the work does not sufficiently demonstrate or are not sufficient to allay our concerns,” Kirsch said.
“(Testing the assumptions) allows us to see whether there will be further impacts, either to water supplies, domestic or agricultural supplies, or whether there will be a reduction in river water volume, whether wetlands or springs will dry up,” Kirsch said. “This information helps us better advocate for what needs to happen around these projects.”
Commissioner Pat Wilson of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Chairman Carter Infinger of the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority, and President and CEO Trip Tollison of the Savannah Economic Development Authority issued a joint statement saying they will comply with the Corps’ request for information:
“We have received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to provide additional data on the proposed water supply for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). We appreciate the diligence USACE is taking to ensure all information is included in its permit, and as we have done with all USACE requests, we will provide this information as quickly as possible. Our plan will provide water to HMGMA while protecting and preserving the local environment, and we remain committed to doing it the right way.”
Hyundai issued a similar statement. “We are confident that they will provide the relevant data in a timely manner, and we will assist them as needed,” it said. “Hyundai has worked tirelessly with relevant authorities to ensure that we are good neighbors to the people of the area and that our activities do not negatively affect the community’s water resources. HMGMA adheres to internationally recognized standards and guidelines to reduce environmental impacts and protect communities.”
The Corps has not set a timeline for reviewing the new data, Pritchard said.
This article originally appeared here on The Current: In-Depth Journalism for Coastal Georgia.
