Lafarge

Click here for background information about Lafarge's application for expansion and BVCAS' concerns about the expected increase in green house gas emissions in the Bow Valley which will result from Lafarge's expansion.

Feb. 21/08 - Lafarge has responded to BVCAS' Dec. 20/07 Statement of Concerns.  Click here to see Lafarge's response.  If anyone has comments or concerns about Lafarge's response, please advise us at info@bowcleanair.org  

March 27/08 - Bow Valley Clean Air Society met with Lafarge to further explore the following key issues:

• Fine particulate PM10 and PM2.5 have not been properly analyzed from a cumulative effects perspective.  Lafarge’s reason for not evaluating PM10 and PM2.5 is that no other emitters in the valley report on PM10 and PM2.5.
• SO2 is not improving.  Lafarge indicates that the flue gas desulphurization technology they are installing might result in a reduction in SO2 but they are uncomfortable committing to a reduction.
• Background levels of pollutants have not been taken into account in the cumulative impact assessment.
• CO2 – Lafarge is not willing to reduce CO2 until there is certainty that they will get credit for the reductions.  This is disappointing as Lafarge in Europe is reqired to offset CO2.

The meeting was open and honest, but Lafarge has no motivation to reduce CO2 emissions until there is economic incentive to do so, (i.e. carbon tax.) note - Lafarge has a plant in BC which will come under BC's new carbon tax initiative.

March 28/08 - Alberta Environment grants a second extension of one year to the expiry date of the existing approval for the Lafarge Canada Exshaw Cement plant.  The purpose of the extension is to allow for further public review of the approval renewal and proposed plant expansion.  The new expiry date would be April 30, 2009.  Lafarge would operate under the existing terms and conditions for a period of one year, or until a new approval is issued, whichever comes first.

Status of the Application for Renewal – the following activities are currently in progress:

• Alberta Environment is continuing with the technical review of the application.
• Lafarge is undertaking an aboriginal consultation with the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
• Lafarge is responding to issued raised by those who filed letters of concern.

 Progress on the above steps will be needed before Alberta Environment will make a decision on the renewal of the Approval.

April 28/08 -   As a follow-up to the meeting with Lafarge on March 27^th, BVCAS sent another Statement of Concern to Lafarge with copy to Alberta Environment.  Of note is that Lafarge is still engaged in conversation with BVCAS, thus taking information to the press is sensitive at this time.  We will wait until Lafarge has a chance to respond to our latest letter before taking any further action.

Graymont 

Graymont has responded to BVCAS’ formal statement of concern where we listed a number of concerns regarding Graymont’s application to install an additional crusher and additional rock piles.  If anyone would like to see the Statement of Concern and Graymont’s response, please click here.

April 4/08

Graymont got an amending approval from Alberta Environment for a secondary crusher and emissions reduction project.  For more details click here.

April 21/08 BVCAS had a good meeting with Graymont. They got their crusher project approved and are now working on their 10 year renewal. For their renewal, they are only installing one filtration bag house instead of two.  They have just started the public consultation process for their renewal.

  Every 1 tonne of carbon burned produces 3.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2)        (source - Environment Canada)