ALL HEADLINES

June 12, 2020

FG to resume pre-construction activities

Work practices tailored for COVID-19 safety

 

Vacherie, LA — FG intends to resume preconstruction activities later this month, as well as implement work practices and protocols tailored for coronavirus (COVID-19) safety. 

These preconstruction activities are necessary in advance of FG’s planned improvements to a 2.5-mile stretch of Highway 3127, including widening to add two new travel lanes, as well as other planned construction activities.

“FG takes very seriously the concern surrounding COVID-19 across our communities, and our hearts go out to those who have been impacted. The health and safety of our employees, the community and the environment is, and will continue to be, our top priority during The Sunshine Project. Now that Louisiana is taking steps to return to work, FG plans to restart its preconstruction activities at the site,” said Janile Parks, Director of Community and Government Relations, FG LA LLC.   

In March, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in FG’s workforce and across our community, and in light of safety issues associated with fluctuating Mississippi River stages, FG temporarily paused activities on project property for April and May. 

During this pause in site activity, FG has implemented a number of work practices tailored for COVID-19 safety based on guidelines provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including administering daily temperature checks of employees and contractors.

FG plans to resume the following preconstruction activities, which may be visible to the community: 

  • Delivering limestone to create temporary parking lots on Hwy 18 and on Hwy 3127
  • Placing temporary security and medical trailers and related personnel onsite
  • Erecting a large tent for conducting operational, orientation and safety meetings 
  • Putting signage in place onsite to underscore safe work practices and social distancing guidelines

FG anticipates that the Highway 3127 expansion will start in late June. In addition to the highway expansion, FG anticipates resuming activities that it suspended in March. These activities include soil testing and relocation of utilities along Highway 18. Any resumption of these activities will be phased to limit the number of workers onsite at one time and allow for social distancing. Other construction activities planned for this summer include removal of a pipeline running through the site and installing test piles. As the project progresses, FG will provide further updates.

“Louisiana Economic Development continues to collaborate with FG on what will be a game-changing project for St. James Parish and our entire state,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “We appreciate FG’s responsible approach to COVID-19 compliance and its continued emphasis on environmental integrity and safety as this project approaches formal construction. Presently, the thousands of jobs that will accompany the next phases of development continue to be the most welcome and, indeed, will be very timely for many Louisiana workers.”

FG is committed to keeping the community informed during the construction phase. For the latest construction and traffic updates, follow St. James Parish and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office on Facebook. Stay tuned to the St. James Parish community alert systems for the latest information. 

“We will continue to collaborate with the community and embrace the spirit of cooperation as we work together to build a brighter, stronger future,” Parks concluded.

 

###

 

About FG LA LLC:

FG is a member of Formosa Plastics Group (Formosa), a Taiwanese-based conglomerate founded in 1954. Formosa has over 100,000 employees worldwide with locations in the USA, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. Formosa’s major businesses are oil refining, petrochemicals, plastics, fibers, textiles, electronics, energy, steel, transportation, machinery, healthcare and biotech. 

The Sunshine Project is FG LA LLC’s $9.4 billion industrial complex planned for St. James Parish. The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs over the next eight years. In early January 2020, FG received the permits needed to begin construction of The Sunshine Project. Once constructed, the project will be one of the most innovative, single-site ethylene production complexes in the world and will make the plastic building blocks found in everyday products that help make our lives safer, healthier, cleaner and more efficient. FG’s products also help make life-saving PPE (personal protective equipment), including N95 and surgical masks needed in the fight against COVID-19. Demand for these products is expected to increase over time, and The Sunshine Project will continue to help meet that demand.