MODESTE — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging whether Louisiana officials followed proper procedures when they entered into an agreement with Hyundai ahead of a planned $5.8 billion steel mill project.

The ruling came from the 19th Judicial District Court and went against the plaintiffs, which include activist groups Rural Roots Louisiana and Louisiana Bucket Brigade.

The plaintiffs argued that residents could not raise concerns about the cooperative endeavor agreement because negotiations were done in secrecy and withheld from the public. They also argued the agreements could potentially place more than $300 million in financial exposure on Ascension Parish if the state fails to meet its commitments.

The state countered that if the legislature does not appropriate the funds that Louisiana Economic Development needs to meet its commitment to Hyundai, there is no penalty on the state for that failure to appropriate.

Hyundai is set to break ground on the steel mill at the Riverplex Megapark in Modeste in the coming days. The company is hosting an open house at the LeMann Center in Donaldsonville at 5:30 p.m. Thursday ahead of the project.