Cement plant faces county closure threat
Colorado air pollution control officials are imposing an additional fine of $1.3 million on the Cemex cement plant near Lyons for fugitive dust and emissions in Boulder County. This is in addition to earlier fines and comes at a time when county regulators are questioning whether the plant should be allowed to remain open.
Violations and Penalties
State inspectors identified violations in 2021, resulting in a fine of $357,000. Similar violations were found during annual inspections in 2022 and 2023. The new penalty of $1.3 million is for these violations in 2022 and 2023. The state is ordering Cemex to take immediate actions to reduce air pollution and improve compliance.
About $835,000 of the penalty will be allocated towards environmental justice programs in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by pollution, while the remainder will go to the general fund.
Community Response
Local resident Sarah Lorang, who has been actively monitoring air violations and advocating for the closure of the plant, expressed satisfaction with the state’s actions but noted that fines have not been sufficient to deter Cemex’s actions. Lorang and other activists were successful in closing Cemex’s materials mine at Dowe Flats when county commissioners denied the company a permit extension for mining activities.
Neighborhood groups are calling for additional rules to be added to Cemex’s air permits, including the installation of full-time emissions monitors on dust and smokestacks, with real-time readings accessible to the public.
“The monitors they do have are offline a lot, weirdly,” Lorang said. “We’d like them to mandate actual continuous monitoring. It’s a 55-year-old plant, and they haven’t made those capital improvements. If they were actually monitoring what was happening, it would be even worse.”
Cemex’s Response
A spokesperson for Cemex stated that the company has reached an agreement with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to settle alleged regulatory violations from 2021 to 2023. While the company has agreed to the terms of the settlement and related fines without admitting liability, Cemex maintains that it operates as a responsible environmental steward in the communities where it operates.
County Closure Threat
The new fines coincide with Boulder County’s attempt to halt all cement production at the Lyons plant. County regulators terminated the plant’s right to continue operating in April, citing increased truck traffic as a hazard to residents and a violation of the nonconforming use permit. The permit allows the industrial plant to operate in an agricultural zone. Cemex had anticipated the need for increased trucking after the denial of a permit renewal for the onsite cement materials mine.
Boulder County officials have given Cemex 30 days to provide evidence refuting the termination or reducing the enlargement of the cement plant use. Alternatively, Cemex can appeal the determination to the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners. The plant will be allowed to operate under current conditions until a final decision is made.
Neighborhood groups anticipate that Cemex will challenge the termination, arguing that it is based on incorrect information.
“The walls are closing in. I wish Cemex would see that,” Lorang said. “They’re choosing the path of resistance.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- Indicator: Proportion of urban population living in areas where air quality meets WHO guidelines.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | Proportion of urban population living in areas where air quality meets WHO guidelines. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population. |
Analysis
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article addresses the issue of air pollution caused by the Cemex cement plant. Air pollution is a hazard to human health and well-being, which aligns with SDG 3. The target under this SDG that can be identified is Target 3.9, which aims to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air pollution. The indicator mentioned in the article is the number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article discusses the impact of the cement plant on the neighborhood and the violation of terms of the nonconforming use permit. This relates to SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. Target 11.6 aims to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, including air quality. The indicator mentioned in the article is the proportion of the urban population living in areas where air quality meets WHO guidelines.
-
SDG 13: Climate Action
The article mentions the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on climate action. Target 13.1 aims to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The indicator mentioned in the article is the number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters.
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Fuente: coloradosun.com
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