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•~ ~~ ~ I II I II I II II{~ ~~~ ~ M -, -, 2 ~ g • May 10, 1998 Mr. Clarence Comer, President Southdown, Inc. Corporate Office 1200 Smith Street, Suite 2400 Houston, Texas 77002 Dear Mr. Comer, r r `"FINED MAY 15 ~ggg tli~ ..,., ;Geology CGevl J , ,l ~- ; ., r....~ ~J - ^ 1 1 ~, ~~ I am writing to inform you of a serious situation involving air pollution at your Lyons' plant that is causing grave concerns among many residents of this community. Until this situation is corrected, the animonsiry felt toward Southdown's inability to control its air pollution will grow greater each day. Our homes are full of white baghouse dust. It erodes the windshields on our automobiles. Wfiat do you suppose it does to our lungs? The Colorado Department of Health and the Environment has responded to our complaints, and a copy of the department's letter to Southdown is enclosed. The enclosed photograph of plumes of baghouse dust blowing off your property was taken early in April of this year. On that particular day, the plumes were blowing to the east through the St. Vrain Valley and then into the community of Hygiene and on into Longmont. The Colorado Department of Health specifically directed Southdown on February 23, 1998 that "baghouse dust should not remain exposed to the wind." (See enclosed document) Yet, weeks later plumes of Southdown's dust continue to contaminate our area--blown by the wind into our homes, schools, surrounding communities, and into our lungs. I have personally discussed this situation with officials at Southdown on three occasions. These gentlemen are cordial, but they seem unable to initiate actions that will eliminate the dust from blowing off the company's property. The demographics of this area have changed greatly since your plant was built. Many new families have settled in this beautiful region and m2n~ retti~ deve!cpments are on the horizon. Also hundreds of cyclists and joggers use our roadways for recreation each year. The air pollution from Southdown Lyons' facility is exposing hundreds of people to a greater risk of contracting pulmonary problems and related health perils, and we aren't going to put up with it. Our organization is called The St. Vrain Valley Community Watchdogs, and we are dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of this region. Mr. Comer, we anticipate that our letter to you will result in eliminating air pollution at the Lyons' facility forever. We hope you will agree that it is easier to correct this problem now than face a more aggressive approach by the citizens of 5t. Vrain Valley.