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.~ .~ Permit #: ~ - 1~~~-Z~c~ Confidental?: St. Vrain Valley Community Watchdogs neighbors unite jot cteatr air P O Box 82/HygienelCO 80533-0082 September 5, 2002 online at www.ztvrainx•atchdogs.org Ms. Erica S. Crosby Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Minerals and Geology Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Class: 9 Dac Type-Seq.: From: St, 12z, ~,It ~? ~iti~ , Doc. Name: ('r //,.~„F (~ _w o C{CD Doc. Date (if no date stamp): G-~3_ , RECEIVED _ - - SEP 13 ~~ pivision of Minerals end Geolo9Y ---Dear-Ms.-Crosby, - -- -- - - - - -- ------ ------ - --- - - Thank you for your email regarding the inspection that you are conducting at Cemex- Lyons. Here is our latest update. There have been at least 10 recent reports filed with the Boulder County Health Department from citizens in this community who have witnessed fugitive dust emissions originating at Cemex-Lyons. (Ten reported incidents may be a conservative figure as many residents work during the hours of operation at the plant and some dust events may go unreported.) I would emphasize that the County and State regulatory agencies would not even be aware of these incidents if it were not for the conscientious efforts of people in the community who take the time to report the incidents they see to the Boulder County Health Department. We are chagrined and puzzled about why citizens have to continue functioning in this watchdog role here. Something is wrong with this process as the official regulators are ] 0 to 50 miles away, and would never know that these incidents ever occurred. For decades, Cemex-Lyons has been unable to contain its airborne assault of toxic substances that have blown into our homes, interjecting fear, anxiety, and disease into our lives. This is completely intolerable. Each person in this community has the right to enjoy a healthy and a safe environment. This is an agricultural community, and people came to live here because of the peace, quiet, the natural beauty here; (and the fresh air that the St. Vrain Valley should offer.) We aze fearful because we know the content of this industrial white dust that settles in our gardens, our homes, pitting the windshield of our automobiles. We can only surmise what it is doing to our lungs. It seems dangerous that the local regulatory agencies have not yet adopted effective provisions to correct the slovenly management practices at Cemex-Lyons. The fact that the company has improved is not safe enough. OSHA protects the employees at the plant, but we citizens living on the windward side and our children attending the Hygiene school are helpless victims until an astute regulatory agency decides that enough is enough and comes to our assistance. We are resting our hope in you. ••Aotect what's closut to your heart; Your family, fiiendt and your lungr "