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A - ~ \i October 8, 2002 St. Vrain Valley Community Watchdogs neighbors united for clean air P O Box 82/Hygiene/CO 80533-0082 orsline at www.sNrainwatchdogs.org Ms. Erica Crosby Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Ms. Crosby, Permit#: M-(q.~~-w~_ Confidental?:~ Class: Type-Seq.: From: ~ To: Doc. Name: 4tn 0 Pz Doc. Date (if no date st p): - 5 • ze[~+a^ RECEIVED OCT 1 5 202 YlYislon of Minerals and Geology Thank you for your inspection report of September 5, 2002. Please keep the Watchdogs informed regazding the DMG's progress in the bonding for the cement kiln demolition and disposal. Less than a month after the DMG inspection, Ms.Gabi Hoefler and Ms. Pamela Milmoe, Boulder County Health Department, conducted an unannounced "Complaint Investigation for Fugitive Dust" on September 30, 2002 at Cemex-Lyons. A copy of this investigation is enclosed. The last several months have been a back slide. Plumes are still present from the CICD disposal pit and from the factory complex. The investigation by Ms. Hoefler and Ms. Milmoe confirms our suspicions that housekeeping problems are still issues. The improper handling of materials in the clinker pit; and the lack of compliance for cleaning up piles of dust noted in previous inspections may well have been the source of the recent plumes blowing off the company's property into the community. This week, three plumes were reported to the Boulder County Health Department and to Cemex-Lyons on October 6, 2002. The compliance manager at the facility seeks refuge behind the 30 mph regulation. The community; however, has no refuge from Portland cement dust blowing in the wind. One of the problems with this industry coming into compliance with an effective fugitive dust control plan could be that most inspections are "announced," which gives the plant time to clean up their housekeeping problems before the inspectors come. The St. Vrain Watchdogs have been stewards of this area for several years out of necessity not choice. No one from the county or the State is within visibility of this plant to directly see these dust events, so we continue to have to alert government officials such as you. We would rather be living our lives in the peace and beauty of this gem of a valley. We hope that the practice of giving this company advance notice that an '`Protect what's closest m your heart; your family, friends and your lungs."