Do you have any evidence at all for the claim that a spherical...

Do you have any evidence at all for the claim that a spherical graphite plant in the US would have a

"huge impact on the environment"?

Any such plant will observe the state and federal environmental restrictions to its operation, just as do the many hundreds of chemical plants in Louisiana, today. Using chemicals, including acids, in a treatment process is a routine feature of industrial operations. And yes, such companies do have permits, and follow the rules under which those permits were issued.

The Chinese shutdowns relate almost entirely to low-grade deposits which have been guilty of simply flushing acidic wastes into the nearest river. Not unreasonably, the government is cracking down on such practices. But to suggest that, because some bad operators in China are being shut down, industrial companies around the world should stop using safe and efficient processing methods, in a controlled and environmentally-sensitive way, is just bizarre.

Cheers