Austrian Pipeline Maker Faces Texas Trial Over Pollution

A steelmaker that helped make Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline is facing an environmental trial in Texas for allegedly polluting a Gulf Coast city.

Voestalpine AG said it’s preparing to fight the allegations made by residents of Corpus Christi. The Austrian company, which manufactured the steel for both of Gazprom PJSC’s Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, finished building the world’s biggest sponge-iron plant four years ago at the Texas port that has become a key hub for U.S. oil and gas exports.

The allegations have come to light as political tensions have risen over the Russian-built pipeline that has been heavily criticized by U.S. and European lawmakers over its ties to President Vladimir Putin.

In addition to the lawsuit, the company is facing continued state investigations in response to some 250 complaints that had been filed against Voestalpine with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by the start of September.

State investigators documented how clouds of metallic dust emitted from the company’s plant contaminated local property.