Settlement reached over water rights at Hyundai EV plant property in Southeast Georgia

Caption

Hyundai's electric vehicle factory in Bryan County, as seen under construction in 2023.

Credit: Hyundai Motor Group

Environmental advocates and economic developers in Southeast Georgia have reached an agreement over water rights at the site of Hyundai's electric vehicle plant in Bryan County near Savannah.

The settlement announced this week by the nonprofit Ogeechee Riverkeeper and the Savannah Joint Development Authority effectively ends a legal appeal filed by the environmental group last year against state environmental regulators.

In that dispute, Ogeechee Riverkeeper had challenged groundwater withdrawal permits issued to Bryan and Bulloch counties by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, arguing that drawing water from the Floridan Aquifer could harm the fragile underground reservoir and wildlife that depends on it.

The new settlement shortens the timeline from 25 years to 15 years for securing new water sources for the Bryan County Industrial Megasite, and also requires additional water quality testing at existing wells.

In a joint statement, both parties emphasized their commitment to balancing environmental protection with job creation.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper executive director Damon Mullis said that the agreement "demonstrates that environmental protection and smart growth are not mutually exclusive," adding that the shortened timeline and enhanced testing come as "important first steps" toward prioritizing drinking water and agricultural needs.

Savannah Joint Development Authority treasurer Trip Tollison said that his coalition — which represents development officials in four counties, including Bryan and Bulloch — would continue to "bring better opportunities to those that live in the Savannah region," including well-paying jobs and access to "the natural resources that make our region such a wonderful place to live."

The Hyundai electric vehicle plant, which opened in October, is expected to employ 8,500 workers once production reaches its peak capacity of assembling 300,000 automobiles per year.