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Arkansas Steel Mill Appeal Hearing Tentatively Set For March

An administrative law judge has tentatively scheduled a March 28 hearing on the appeal of an air permit issued for a planned $1 billion steel mill in Mississippi County.

Nucor Steel, which has two steel plants in Mississippi County, is appealing the air permit issued to Big River Steel. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the March hearing means construction will begin later than planned on the new steel mill.

The plant's investors had hoped to begin construction in December.

An attorney for Nucor says the company would need seven to 10 days to present witnesses in the hearing.

Nucor requested that the hearing be held in June, but an Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission administrative law judge says he's "cautiously optimistic" the hearing can take place in March.

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