Lafarge North America Inc. announced major plans to upgrade its cement plant in Ravena in order to modernize its upstate facility.
The announcement, made Wednesday, July 9, comes on the heels of a federal Toxic Release Inventory report released in February that stated the Route 9W plant across from the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school released 400 pounds of mercury in 2006.
It is the first of many steps that Lafarge is taking in the New York regulatory permitting process, according to company spokesman Saleem Cheeks, which could result in an investment to modernize the Ravena cement plant. As it’s currently proposed, the modernization project would replace the existing 46-year-old cement plant’s equipment with state-of-the-art cement manufacturing technology.
`Today’s action represents just the first step in a series of steps necessary to bring more modern manufacturing technologies to the Ravena plant, which would enhance emissions controls and environmental performance as well as improve industrial efficiency and reduce production costs,` Joe Goss, Lafarge United States East Cement Business Unit President said at the announcement. `Lafarge is committed to continuous improvement in our operations to meet world-class standards, and this study is a further demonstration to our commitment in upstate New York.`
Lafarge submitted its Environmental Assessment Form to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The form, which initiates the permitting process, outlines the nature of the project and the rationale behind the move.
Cheeks described the project as an investment into the community and a commitment to the employees at the plant.
To move forward, the proposed project requires regulatory approval at the state and federal levels in addition to conducting advanced studies necessary to receive approval from Lafarge’s board of directors.
The DEC has openly stated it is currently considering rules to limit mercury from cement plants, as the state has already required that coal-fired power plants reduce its emissions 90 percent by 2015.
In a release, Lafarge said the proposed project at the Ravena Cement Plant, which has been making construction materials since 1962, would include several environmental and economic aspects.
The company stated the upgrades would include the use of state-of-the-art technology to improve fuel efficiency and enhance environmental protection; help ensure the long-term future of the Ravena plant in Albany County; provide a `significant economic benefit to the local community`; use modern processes to allow Lafarge to maintain highly competitive positions in terms of safety, product quality, operating efficiency and production costs.
If approved and confirmed, the project would start in 2013.
Once the environmental assessment form is accepted by the DEC, Lafarge’s proposed project will enter the State Environmental Quality Review process.
During the process, the project will undergo further study, environmental impact assessments and public comment periods. Aside from its recent mercury woes, Lafarge continually points to several environmental initiatives it has undertaken such as partnering with the RCS and community youth groups to provide the Deer Mountain Nature Trail, a 150-acre wildlife learning and habitat development center.
The Lafarge Group is an international building materials manufacturer, creating products such as cement, aggregates and, and gypsum. The company reports that is has 90,000 employees in 76 countries and that the Lafarge Group posted sales of 17.6 billion Euros and net income of 1.9 billion Euros in 2007.
Lafarge North America Inc., is a subsidy of French-based manufacture Lafarge SAA.
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