Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Electric truckmaker sued for environmental violations

Electric carmaker Rivian is being sued in federal court by a property owner near the company’s plant in Morgan and Walton counties for a violation of federal environmental law.

The filing claims muddy runoff from the site has choked streams and ponds downstream and additionally names an engineering firm and the contractor clearing the land in the suit.

The lawsuit claims Rivian has been aware of the issues since last December and that neither it nor the other companies involved have bolstered their sediment controls.

Last week, a judge handed the project a victory of sorts in a separate case when it ordered Rivian opponents to pre-pay state and local economic authorities’ legal fees to continue litigation challenging rezoning for the plant. And appeals continues over $700 million in tax breaks granted the project that a local judge struck down.

Rivian can terminate its agreement with the state in May if the local tax breaks aren’t approved.