LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A lawsuit seeking to stop construction of the Big River Steel Mill near Osceola has been dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes on Wednesday dismissed the lawsuit by Nucor Steel against Big River Steel. Holmes ruled that the citizen lawsuit under the federal Clean Air Act is not authorized and that his court has no jurisdiction.
Nucor claimed Big River Steel has violated the Clean Air Act. Big River Steel countered that the mill is still under construction and not operational, so it can't be emitting anything to violate the act.
Nucor operates two steel mills outside Blytheville, about 20 miles from where Big River Steel broke ground in September on a $1.3 million mill in Osceola.
Nucor is also appealing approval of an air permit granted for Big River's mill.