Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2005 22:51:02 EST From: RCargill@aol.com


I wrote a letter to the Board of Health regarding community members' complaints about Portland cement dust blowing off of unwashed transports that exit Cemex. It is estimated that only 1 out of every 4 transports clean spillage before exiting the plant. The cement spillage on the top of unwashed trucks starts blowing off the trucks when they turn onto Rt 66. Residents are rightly concerned about breathing this stuff.

The Board of Health responded to this situation in a letter dated Oct 24, 05:

Excerpts: "Thanks you for your letter regarding the Cemex-Lyons Truck Wash. First, the Board of Health sincerely appreciates the time and effort you and other members of the St. Vrain Valley Watchdogs have devoted to the protection of air quality in Boulder County.

Citing the Memorandum of Understanding between Cemex and Boulder County Public Health (BCPH), the observed failure of a number of transport truck to use the water spray system during the state's annual inspection was included in the recent Notice of Violation (NOV) that was issued to Cemex by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). BCPH staff is working closely with CDPHE on this and other alleged violations contained in the NOV and will take all appropriate and available action to arrive at a timely and suitable resolution.

We understand that the process of inspections and enforcement is the vehicle that CDPHE and BCPH (as an agent of the state) have to ensure and compel compliance with applicable laws and permit requirements. The Board of Health strongly supports the continued efforts of BCPH and CDPHE staff to conduct both annual and unannounced inspections. The Board also supports staff's referral of possible matters of enforcement to CDPHE that provide the state with the necessary background and documentation to require mandatory operating conditions at the plant, regardless of the fuel or fuels being used. Despite these regulatory procedures and ongoing interaction with CDPHE and Cemex, BCPH staff and community members continue to be concerned about operating conditions at the plant and its ability to consistently meet regulatory requirements.

...The Board of Health and Boulder County Public Health appreciates your continued interest, concern, and support for air quality in Boulder County, and we look forward to meeting with community members to discuss these issues in further detail.

Sincerely, Christina Suarez, President, Boulder County Board of Health

This is a most appropriate response to our concerns. We'll just have to watch and see if Cemex will get in compliance with these reasonable expectations.

Richard

Each one teach one.

"Let us do our work as well, Both the unseen and the seen, Make the house where gods may dwell, Entire, beautiful and clean." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow