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Cargill knows how he'd like to see this story end. <br />"[Cemex] has been there a long time," he says. "The demographics have changed. [Cemex] hasn't been a good neighbor. <br />It's time for them to go." <br />Although state officials say there's no link between Cemex's proposal to burn tires and the alleged violations found by the <br />state, Cargill says the two issues are absolutely connected. If the plant has so many problems controlling fugitive dust, it <br />shouldn't be trusted to manage something as complicated and potentially harmful to the environment as burning tires. <br />Lou Dobbs says she would oppose any resolution that did not involve Cemex paying a fine and feels strongly that SEPs <br />should be directed toward programs for the plant's neighbors. <br />"That money should go toward benefiting those who have suffered," she says. "It should not go to Cemex for funds to <br />clean up the plant. They should have to do that anyway." <br />Meanwhile, the whistleblower responded with relief when MSHA inspectors arrived at the plant on Tuesday. For months, <br />this individual has felt isolated. Now the insider hopes other employees will back up these claims. More than that, the <br />insider hopes federal regulators will force changes at Cemex. <br />"I'm so glad for the safety for these [workers at Cemex]," the insider says. "That was really what I was concerned about to <br />begin with." <br />Hot wheels <br />Controversy continues over Cemex's plans to burn tires <br />by Joel Warner (Editorial@boulde~weekly.com) <br />On the surface, it sounds like a great idea, awin-win situation for everyone. Why not let Cemex use some of the two to <br />three billion scrap tires sitting in landfills across the country to fuel its cement kiln, replacing in part the use of <br />environmentally damaging coal fuels? After all, using coal means lots of mining, and using scrap tires spares our landfills. <br />But for nearby residents who've been fighting the proposal, tire burning is not so simple. They argue that tire incineration <br />is far from agreen-friendly process, especially in cement kilns not designed for such uses. And they say these concerns <br />are magnified when a company like Cemex, which has aless-than-stellar environmental record, is in charge of the project. <br />For John Lohr, plant manager at Cemex, the use of tire-derived fuel is a no-brainer. Refitting the plant to burn tires will <br />cost about $1.5 million. But once the kiln starts using 20 percent scrap tires, the plant should realize $500,000 annually in <br />savings on fuel costs, plus about $225,D00 annually from revenue generated from a recycling fee consumers would pay <br />when they purchase tires. Lohr says the new fuel will also make the plant cleaner. A similar facility in Clinchfield, Ga., now <br />burns tires and has lower emissions than the Lyons plant. <br />16 <br />