Like Formosa Plastics, South Louisiana Methanol (SLM) is proposed for the 5th District of St. James Parish. The facility needs permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality in order to be built. This is the status of those permits.

1. Water Permit

Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Status: Pending

South Louisiana Methanol has submitted a permit modification to the Army Corps, seeking to construct five additional methanol storage tanks, a methanol storage terminal, a rail and truck loading facility, a marine loading dock, and access roads. SLM also plans to withdraw 13 million gallons of water from the Gramercy Aquifer every day.

The proposed modification activities are all major projects on their own and have been declared by SLM to be essential to the viability of the project, making the piecemealed application and approval inappropriate and unlawful.

Learn more here.

2. Air Permit

Agency: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
Status: Pending

South Louisiana Methanol’s air permit has expired and it has not begun construction, therefore it is only lawful and appropriate that SLM apply for a new, comprehensive permit that includes a full alternative site analysis. It is clear that SLM is merely attempting to hold onto its 2013 air permit to avoid a full analysis of its project and ignore the St. James Parish Master Land Use Plan.

SLM’s application for its Clean Air Permit reveals that the facility will release pollutants including acetaldehyde, ammonia, arsenic, barium, benzene, cadmium, chromium, copper, dichlorobenzene, formaldehyde methanol, manganese, mercury, n-hexane, naphthalene, nickel, toluene, and zinc. The facility also plans to emit over 2 million tons of greenhouse gases every year.

Learn more here.

3. Coastal Use Permit

Agency: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR)
Status: On Hold

South Louisiana Methanol has likely lost any authorization under the Parish’s April 23, 2014 land use approval due to the failure to construct and operate. Several features of the project would extend beyond the “expansion area” on land that is designated as “Residential Growth.” Industrial uses are not allowed in residential growth areas.

Learn more here.