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/' St. Vrain Valley Community Watchdogs neighbors unite for clean air P O Box 82/Hygiene/CO 80533-0082 online a! www.sfvrainwatchdogs.org ~~ Cemex-Lyons tire burning plan requires a leap of faith. Are the risks really worth it? Longmont City Council RECEIVE p November 1, 2002 Civic Center 350 Kimbazk St. N0~ ~ $ ?~~? M - (~-7-? ~ ~~ Longmont, Colorado 80501 Division olMioerals and ~eolo /~ p nn Dear Council Members, 9Y 19p c~-~3~ Baclreround: For the last five years, the Watchdogs have been working in concert with local and State agencies in an effort to seek a solution to fugitive dust problems at Cemex-Lyons (formerly Southdown). A priority of our efforts has been for Cemex-Lyons to adopt and maintain effective housekeeping practices. This is crucial to prevent episodes of fugitive Portland cement dust from blowing into the surrounding communities. In the years previous to our campaign, cement dust was saturating the St. Vrain Valley. Residents here had not been able to open their windows for nine years. Regardless, the white dust was still everywhere inside their homes. (See attached photo documentary.) Although improvements have been made, the company still has episodic cement dust storms due to failures in housekeeping and improper handling on materials. Enclosed are copies of two complaint investigation inspection reports performed by the Boulder County Health Department (09/30/02) and the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (10!01/02). Cemex-Lyons'dust control plan is still far from adequate. The company's dust continues to pose a threat to the safety and health of people in the adjoining - -communities: -- - - - ---~ - -. - - - - Trust• Still unable to contain its toxic dust, Cemex-Lyons is now launching a new project to increase corporate profits by burning 700,000 to 1,000,000 waste tires as fuel in the cement kiln. There are many resident in Lyons, Hygiene, and Longmont who are opposed to this potentially hazardous practice of using tires as fuel. Cemex-Lyons, however, is scheduling a test bum in November. The EPA's position is that burning tires in a cement kiln may be an acceptable practice provided that the kiln is agpronriately designed. and the vrocess is well-run and well- maintained. However, the observations made by the County and State regulatory "Aouet what's elosat to yow hoax; }row family, friends and your lungs."