GONZALES — Several environmental groups who are opposed to the RiverPlex MegaPark Industrial Development in Ascension made their case today as they claimed deals to attract companies like Hyundai are shrouded in secrecy.

The RiverPlex is planned to house Hyundai, Exxon and CF Industries.

According to the groups, which included Rural Roots Louisiana and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, who collaborated to protect West Ascension Parish from industrialization, 32 public officials have signed non-disclosure agreements related to the project as it receives over $2 billion of financial support from Louisiana, including tax exemptions and direct cash payments. 

"We have a vision for shared prosperity in Louisiana, and we don't believe that any of these plans, whether it be the RiverPlex Megapark or Meta or SpaceX going and dropping rockets in Vermilion Parish, that's corporate big business," Anne Rolfes said. "That's not something that's going to result in the shared prosperity for the people of Louisiana."

Senior Research Analyst at the Ohio River Valley Institute Kathy Hipple said that in March, the Ascension Parish IDB approved agreements authorizing up to $5.8 billion of taxable and tax-exempt revenue bonds in connection with the Hyundai- POSCO project, with various legal agreements not made public.

The agreements used to approve the Hyundai Steel Mill include IDB holding the legal title to the facility, which is then leased to Hyundai, allowing them to run the steel mill, paying IDB instead of property taxes, according to Hipple.

The groups said that Hyundai's total payments to IDB over its total 32-year lease term will equate to about $552 million while the commitment from the public in supporting the mill nears $2.6 billion. This includes infrastructure, forgone taxes and utility discounts. 

Other speakers raised health concerns, referencing the infamous Cancer Alley.

"It's about public health. It's about environmental justice. It's about ensuring that communities are not continually asked to bear the cost of industrial development while receiving few of its long-term benefits." Courtney Harris, program manager for Rural Roots Louisiana, said.