A judge is giving Big River Steel more time to respond to a federal lawsuit that seeks to stop the billion-dollar project from moving forward in northeast Arkansas.
U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes agreed Wednesday for a 28-day extension for the company to respond to the federal lawsuit filed by Nucor Steel. The lawsuit seeks to block Big River Steel from building its $1.3 billion steel mill south of Osceola and also seeks a revocation of the company's air permit issued by the state.
Big River Steel must now respond to the complaint by Oct. 10. Nucor, which operates its own steel mill in Mississippi County, had opposed the request for an extension.
Big River Steel plans a groundbreaking Sept. 22 for the project.
