June 2008: Coal Fire at CEMEX A coal fire at Cemex’s Lyons plant ignited by spontaneous combustion Monday stopped emitting visible smoke by Tuesday, but officials believe it continued to smolder throughout the day. The fire ignited at about 10 a.m. Monday and was extinguished when Cemex staff pumped carbon dioxide into a concrete silo to rob the fire of oxygen. Pam Milmoe, air/waste coordinator for Boulder County Public Health, said state officials will determine whether Cemex will face any sanctions for the fire. Christopher Dann, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said Tuesday morning that state officials had not yet received the “upset” report from Cemex. Longmont Times-Call Boulder Daily Camera June 2008: CEMEX is Issued NOV The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) has issued another Notice of Violation to CEMEX. alleging various violations of state air quality regulations and operating permit conditions at the company’s Lyons cement plant northwest of Boulder. “We are concerned that CEMEX continues to operate this facility without direct and consistent focus on compliance with air quality regulations and the facility’s permit,” said Paul Tourangeau, director of the department’s Air Pollution Control Division. “We expect this plant to be operated in compliance with the law, and will continue to take the actions necessary to produce that result.” The current notice of violation is the result of several on-site inspections of the plant by the Air Pollution Control Division and inspectors from the Boulder County Health Department in 2007 and 2008. Among the allegations reflected in the notice are opacity violations, failure to conduct necessary stack tests in a timely fashion, failure to operate monitoring equipment within requirements, failure to file appropriate and timely air pollutant emission notices, and record-keeping errors. As part of the notice of violation process, the company will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations, submit data and discuss whether assessment of civil and noncompliance penalties is appropriate. Since 2000, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has entered into four separate compliance orders on consent with CEMEX over alleged noncompliance issues at the Lyons plant. A compliance order on consent is the settlement agreement that resolves the alleged noncompliance issues that resulted in the notice of violation. This notice of violation is the latest in a series of enforcement actions taken by state and federal authorities against CEMEX during the last several years, including a state action in 2006 that resulted in a $1.5 million penalty. The 2006 penalty was the second-largest penalty ever assessed by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division. In addition to the state actions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued its own notice of violation in March 2007 that has yet to be resolved. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission conducted a public hearing at its March 2008 regular meeting during which representatives from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, CEMEX, local authorities and community members provided information and comments on facility operations and permit compliance. CEMEX is one of the world’s leading building materials suppliers, providing cement and concrete products for construction projects. Founded in Mexico in 1906, CEMEX operates numerous cement plants, distribution terminals and quarries in the United States and abroad. Longmont News Denver Post Channel 7 Daily Camera St. Vrain Valley Watchdogs Notice of Violation March 2008: AQCC Hears CEMEX Issues During the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission's monthly meeting, representatives from the Air Quality Control Division and the Neighbors voiced concerns and lingering questions about past and current conditions at the cement plant in Lyons. Representatives from CEMEX, including plant manager Steve Goodrich, were also in attendance to address issues. The Commission asked about dust pollution, tire burning, monitoring and reporting concerns. Both the Division and CEMEX were requested to justify the unusually high amount of citizen concern about the facility. The history of the facility, with regards to the fines and violations, was explored. The Commission expressed concern that the violations and fines have increased exponentially, while the facility still receives attention due to environmental concerns. CEMEX conceded that the plant is not perfect, but $4 million worth of improvement to combat the problems have been made. The Commission made it clear that the tolerance level for this facility is approaching zero. For more on this issue click here. March 2008: An Upset a CEMEX From a neighbor in Lyons: " On Sunday afternoon March 9, 2008, at approximately 2:45 pm, we witnessed the worst pollution upset at Cemex we personally have witnessed during the past 10 years. Our family was taking a Sunday afternoon walk in our pasture to enjoy the early spring day. We live 1 mile north of Cemex Lyons Plant. We looked back and were alarmed to see a towering ominous brown plume broiling up from the north end of the plant. The upset plume was growing continuously larger by the minute. We were shocked by the sheer size of it and its color. It continued for the next 15 minutes. We are extremely concerned about what the Cemex Lyons Plant released into the air today and about the possible health impact on our community especially those with young children and the elderly living near or downwind of
this serious plant upset." January 2008: Cement and Global Warming What happened on October 10, 2007? The CEOs and managers of one of the world's biggest and most patronized industries gathered under the radar in Brussels. The business of cement produces more than 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In comparison, aviation contributes about 3%, and land transportation about 14%. While the CEOs talk about industry pollution and issues in Eastern Europe and China, seemingly echoing US comments about Kyoto, CCC wonders how we can talk about this immediate and growing problem worldwide and not start to improve conditions locally? To read more about the meeting and global cement follow the following links: NY Times Annual Reviews Industrial Energy Guardian January 2008: Front Range Air Quality Tied to CEMEX The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division is offering a new address on the Internet, http://coloradoairquality.info, to coincide with the start of the annual High Pollution Advisory Program. CEMEX is located within the area of non-attainment for national ozone standards, and has been noted as a contributor to air quality problems on the Front Range. Keep up with air quality by watching this chart or logging on to the site above. November 2007: Is pollution in the Rocky Mountain National Park affecting water? Since ecosystems began to show effects of airborne pollution in Rocky Mountain National Park, scientists have found mercury and nitrogen in the water systems. The airborne pollution, like the smoke that billows out of the stacks at CEMEX, creates acid rain that is deposited in the soil. Not only are the lakes and rivers saturated with chemicals from the rain, but eventually acquire the chemicals from soil seepage. This summer, Grand Lake, which receives water from snow runoff in the park, was shut down for drinking and recreation due to pollution. September 2007: Pollution is affecting wildflowers at RMNP We all know that too much of anything is bad for you. Why, then, are we letting too much nitrogen pile up in the Rocky Mountain National Park? Nitrogen, as we know, has been used for farming to boost the productivity of plants. Too much nitrogen, though, can poison plants, and many are starting to notice how this poisoning is starting to affect the ability for native plants to survive on nutrient overload. We are now on the brink of having grass dominate the plots, and the most fragile species will disappear. In the near future, fully saturated tundra will be rife with grasses and non-native weeds. Down slope, nitrogen running off into streams will cause algae to flourish, reducing the amount of oxygen available to fish. Eventually, the high nitrogen levels will encourage aluminum to move out of the soil (where it is harmless) and into the water (where it is deadly), killing fish and their food source, plankton. To read more about studies with real-time visuals, click here. To see Rocky Mountain National Park, tundra cam August 2007: Estes Park Visitors write postcards to CEMEX On Saturday August 25, CCC staff took to the streets of Estes Park to ask visitors and residents to sign postcards asking CEMEX to stop polluting the Rocky Mountain National Park. The response overwhelmingly in support of efforts to stop haze and nitrogen deposition. Each person we talked with signed the postcard below. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> |
