Comments show support for Lafarge

Lafarge Environmental Manager John Reagan expressed optimism in light of broad public support revealed by the upcoming DEC Responsiveness Study on the Draft Environmental Impact Study public comment period for the Ravena cement plant’s Title V Air and State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.

The comment period for the Lafarge modernization project began on Nov. 24, 2010 and ended in February 2011. The DEIS covers the old and new EPA regulations for the existing plant, as well as the proposed new plant on Route 9W in Ravena.

Reagan stated the new plant will comply with stricter EPA and DEC air emissions requirements as well as be more energy efficient and reduce levels of many toxins.

According to a preliminary list of roughly 800 comments to the DEC, all of which will be available to the public, the vast majority of those submitted support the Lafarge Modernization Project.

Reagan stated the DEC released the transcript of the comments, both written and oral, to Lafarge because the “DEC needs our input in preparing the responsiveness summary.”

While the comments included roughly two dozen e-mails and letters critical of the project, hundreds more endorsed it.

Many respondents filed form letters citing the new plant’s anticipated positive effect on air quality, reduction of fuel and energy consumption, retention of high-paying jobs and introduction of hundreds of high-wage temporary construction jobs to the region.

Seven senators, nine assemblymen, three local chambers of commerce and dozens of businesses also submitted letters of endorsement.

Among them were Congressmen Paul Tonko (D-21), New York State Sen. Neil Breslin (D-46), Assemblyman Ron Canestrari (D-106), Assemblyman John McEneny (D-104), Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R-108) and Albany County Executive Mike Breslin.

Tonko, an engineer by training and an expert on energy issues, wrote, “the past two years Lafarge has gone to exhaustive lengths to comply with New York State Regulations due to their interest in maintaining the site at Ravena. These efforts are a testament to Lafarge’s commitment to the community.”

Tonko pointed out it should not be lost on the community the company could set up anywhere in the world, in places with far less stringent regulation.

“Lafarge wants to stay in Albany County and contribute to the New York State economy,” he wrote.

He stated his office had received hundreds of letters in support of Lafarge and he urged the company to continue its efforts to limit emissions and inform the public about annual mercury emissions.

He also wrote that concerns raised by those worried about excessive emissions and pollution including members of the environmental groups Citizen Advocates for Safe Emissions and Friends of Hudson had not fallen on deaf ears.

“Lafarge has pledged to install the ideal available emissions control technology,” he wrote.

Sen. Breslin wrote, “The Lafarge Ravena Plant is located within my district and they have proven to be an outstanding corporate neighbor. I applaud Lafarge for taking the steps to modernize their plant in a fashion that will create the cleanest most energy efficient plant in North America.”

Albany County Executive Breslin wrote, “The Lafarge modernization would result in a cement manufacturing facility that will be one of the nation’s most advanced and help create a cleaner environment.”

The Bethlehem, Albany-Colonie and Greene County Chambers of Commerce urged the DEC to issue the permits as did the Business Council of New York State and the New York Operations for Audubon International.

The Coeymans Town Board and Ravena Village board also wrote letters of support for the project.

The Rensselaer County Legislature chaired by Martin Reid expressed approval for the modernization, writing, “We encourage NYSDEC to approve the Lafarge modernization plans, but to implement a stringent and comprehensive monitoring program including Southern Rensselaer County.”

Among those urging more DEC oversight were Jeffrey Baker of Young/Sommer LLC, the attorneys representing the environmental groups CASE and FOH.

Baker prefaced the firm’s 19-page document by saying while his clients supported the Lafarge plant modernization project they had multiple concerns about issues ranging from fugitive dust to the plant’s overall appearance.

“We commend Lafarge for its willingness to engage in a dialogue with us on issues concerning the plant and this project,” he wrote.

Baker wrote he hoped the dialogue would continue.

Elyse Kunz wrote that while CASE was formed as an environmental advocacy group in 2008 because of concerns over Lafarge toxic air emissions the group had at no time sought the plant’s closure.

But, she said, toxins such as mercury, arsenic and lead have been emitted by the company for the past five decades and many in her group believe there are no safe exposure levels.

She stated CASE partnered with FOH to engage expert legal and technical services for reviewing the DEIS and have found several broad areas of concern including fugitive dust, air monitoring and aesthetics.

“We urge the DEC to exercise its full authority to ensure the cement plant in Ravena is modernized in a way that is comprehensive, that addresses all the many sources of pollution produced by this massive operation and in a manner that is truly protective of human health,” she wrote.

Schodack resident Ken Stokem wrote, “This modernized Lafarge Ravena Plant should attain the highest international standards for protecting human health and well being, as well as protecting NYS’s precious wildlife, environment, and natural beauty and resources.

“I call upon DEC to do to utmost to represent wellness for NYS citizens, particularly those of us who are within a short distance from the Lafarge Ravena plant and to protect the fragile ecologies of the Hudson River Valley.”

Sam Sebren of Athens wrote that some citizens were not convinced of Lafarge’s intentions.

“We want to know Lafarge, a global multi-billion dollar corporation will be making their Ravena Plant as clean as possible. This project has the capability to affect our health, our economy and our environment here in the Hudson Valley for decades and we would like to see change for the better.”

However, TRC’s Environmental Corporation’s Karen Vetrano wrote, “The predicted maximum emissions from the Lafarge facility as a result of the Modernization Project are well below the State’s health-based guidelines and standards. Modeling of predicted concentrations at specific receptor locations show that air concentrations of these contaminants will be well below health based standards and therefore significantly below levels known to cause any type of health effect. Therefore, NYS DEC should move forward with approving the air permit for the Project.”

And Fredrik Realbuto, director of New York Operations of the Audubon International wrote, “Recognizing the Hudson Valley as a remarkable jewel of natural beauty, but also a delicate one, our organization strives to encourage initiatives that reduce environmental threats here and preserve that fragile beauty.

“For this reason, we believe plans to modernize the Lafarge cement plant in Ravena makes sense for the environment. Any time a company commits to upgrading its facility to more safely manufacture products and be more energy efficient is a step in the right direction.

“Modernizing the Lafarge plant will enhance the quality of life in the Valley and beyond and promote environmental safety by reducing emissions.”

Reagan stated the DEC had received an additional 269 letters but had not yet included them because of problems identifying the signatures.

“We at Lafarge are humbled and excited there is so much widespread support for the modernization project,” he said. “The response has been very encouraging to us.”

Once the DEC releases the entire responsiveness study, Reagan stated there may be revisions to the EIS and then it would go on to the EPA for approval of the air permit.

Reagan stated Lafarge hopes to have the air permit approval by the end of summer, 2011. At that point the company would begin placing orders for equipment, draw up the final design and hopefully begin construction in 2012 with an anticipated finish date of sometime in 2014 and production begin up in 2015.

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Submited at Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 at 1:00 pm on Uncategorized by hilman
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