Walking the walk, in deeds and in truth

For five years, FG LA LLC  sometimes known as Formosa has been working to bring a new industrial complex called The Sunshine Project to St. James Parish’s West Bank. Our project, being constructed on the banks of the Mississippi River in an area specifically designated for industrial use, will have significant economic impacts locally and across Louisiana. 
Once operational, the project is expected to generate $33 million annually in state and local taxes. The total project investment is more than $12 billion, creating 8,000 jobs during peak construction and 1,200 permanent jobs once operational. Local spending is estimated at $500 million. This project is the largest economic generator in the area; products shipped per year from this facility will equal roughly $5.6 billion, constituting 2% of Louisiana’s entire volume of shipped products. This is a significant and necessary investment for St. James Parish, the river region and Louisiana.
The Sunshine Project will make building blocks found in everyday products that help make our lives safer, healthier, cleaner and more efficient. Things like car casings, infant seats, N95 medical masks and other supplies that improve and protect our health. Demand for these products is expected to increase over time, and our project will help meet that demand while upholding our commitment to operate safely and in a manner that protects employees, community and environment. 

Shortly after announcing the project in April 2018, FG began reaching out to stakeholders and the local community. In June 2018, FG held an open house to seek input and answer questions and address concerns from residents. FG has worked diligently to keep the community informed and updated on project progress. We maintain open communication with local project stakeholders, parish residents, ministers, educators, workforce leaders and others to seek feedback and address questions and concerns as the project moves forward. 

We designed our project with the safety of our employees and community in mind. FG’s operational process will use the latest process technology that captures and reuses process materials to reduce emissions to the maximum extent possible. To address community concerns and as part of FG’s land use ordinance with St. James Parish, FG will place air quality monitors along its eastern property boundary to provide data on air emissions. FG will also comply with multiple laws, regulations and permits designed to protect public health. 

Opponents of our project have questioned FG’s respect for cultural resources in the area. The fact is FG is now, and has always, been respectful of the remains discovered on its property and is committed to the St. James community and to preserving its rich history and cultural resources. The company has taken great care to protect the only remains found at the Buena Vista site, located on the border of FG’s property. FG properly and in a timely manner investigated and disclosed information about potential burial sites on the property. 

In 2017, the same year it acquired the property, FG initiated an archaeological assessment. When FG learned of remains at the Buena Vista site through its own archaeological investigation, FG immediately coordinated with the appropriate authorities  the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) archaeologists  and at SHPO’s direction, fenced in and protected the area within the boundary of its property. FG’s archaeologists identified through historic maps only two potential unmarked burial sites on the property. At one of these sites  the Buena Vista site  four sets of human remains were found. The second site was the Acadia site. After two rounds of investigation, no evidence of burials was found at the Acadia site. It is important to note that despite assertions made by outside groups about ancestral ties to the site, no archaeologist has been able to confirm the identity, ethnicity or race of the remains discovered on FG property.

FG is now, and has always been, fully transparent and fully cooperative with the St. James Parish Council and with all state and federal agencies, including those charged with oversight of cultural resources and burial sites. FG’s archaeological investigations of the site have been transparent and are matters of public record, having been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), and SHPO. Public comments about possible cemeteries and remains on the property were received as far back as December 2018 during the Corps and DNR public comment periods. When the land use approval was granted in January 2019, the St. James Parish council confirmed that the project met all requirements set forth in the land use ordinance. FG plans to construct the facility in accordance with all federal, state and parish regulatory, permit, and land use requirements.

FG has followed the law from day one with regard to The Sunshine Project. The land FG purchased St. James Parish had been used as agricultural fields for decades, if not a century. Those working against our project have referred to “other possible cemeteries” on the property, but these are anomalies  like a tree, for example  on historic aerial photographs that have never been shown on any historic map as a possible cemetery. They are simply anomalies, which are defined as anything inconsistent with agricultural use. Moreover, as part of our diligence on the property and with oversight by the SHPO, we have done thousands of shovel tests on the property many of which were done in the areas of or near these claimed anomalies, and no remains have been found other than at the Buena Vista site. Rest assured, we will continue to invite and defend truth, convey project facts, respect cultural resources and embrace the spirit of community cooperation we all so desperately need right now.

FG’s unwavering commitment to St. James Parish remains constant. We don’t just talk about making a difference and supporting our neighbors, we are making a difference. In May 2018, we began investing in local initiatives that uphold our company pillars of education, health, safety and environment. Our community programs reflect needs expressed by residents, schools, churches, senior centers, businesses and others. In 2019, before construction even began on our new facility, FG’s more than 20 active local programs impacted nearly 10,000 residents  more than a third of the parish. FG recently completed needed roadwork in the parish at its own expense. We worked with local partners to design, construct and improve Louisiana Highway 3127  widening the roadway to four lanes, adding two new travel lanes and implementing drainage improvements. The company undertook this work voluntarily and employed local contractors and businesses to get it done.

In addition to hiring qualified local residents and businesses, FG is coordinating with education leaders to prepare the local workforce for future job opportunities with The Sunshine Project through creation of the FG Workforce Academy. Project jobs include operators, technicians, maintenance, administration and more. The academy will connect residents with resources to help them obtain the training, skills or education needed to work with the project. 

Further, our “Think Local” policy solidifies our commitment to hire local residents and use local businesses as much as possible throughout construction and operation of The Sunshine Project. Currently, 93% of our construction workforce is from Louisiana, many local to the area. We hope our commitment and actions speak for themselves.

Throughout the development of The Sunshine Project, FG has listened to and invested in the community and found success through cooperation. Though there are some who may not appreciate the local benefits and investment this project will bring to families and communities in St. James Parish and throughout Louisiana, FG will continue to invite cooperation and truth as we listen to and work with the community to address real concerns. 

Get the facts: SunshineProjectLA.com
Parks is the Director of Community and Government Relations for Formosa.