Holcim Cement, Three Forks, MT
The Holcim Cement Plant is trying to get a permit from Montana DEQ to burn scrap tires at their cement kiln, leading to a significant increase toxic air emissions at the plants home at the headwaters of the Missouri River.
Women’s Voices for the Earth has been providing technical and organizing
assistance to Montanans Against
Toxic Burning (MATB), a volunteer community-based organization concerned
about the environmental health risks associated with plans to burn scrap
tires at the Holcim Cement plant north of Three Forks, MT.
For years, Holcim, a subsidiary of a giant Swiss multi-national conglomerate, has been seeking a permit to burn scrap tires in an effort to reduce fuel costs and generate revenue for the plant. In 2003, the company applied to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a solid waste management system license. If approved, this would be precedent-setting in Montana and could open the door to future proposals to burn other types of toxic waste as "fuel."
The incineration of rubber tires releases a host of toxic chemicals including dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and PCBs. These toxic chemicals are related to health problems including cancer, reproductive impairment, and developmental delays.
In 2003, the DEQ released a draft Environmental Assessment in 2003 and determined that a full Environmental Impact Statement was needed. A Final Environmental Impact Statement was released in summer 2006. A final draft permit is expected to be released by the DEQ in Summer 2007.
Throughout this process, WVE attended public meetings, submitted comments on the assessment and provided technical and organizing support to MATB. WVE intends to continue working in direct support of MATB to prevent this permit from being issued.
For more information from Montanans Against Toxic Burning go to their website at: http://www.notoxicburning.org
For years, Holcim, a subsidiary of a giant Swiss multi-national conglomerate, has been seeking a permit to burn scrap tires in an effort to reduce fuel costs and generate revenue for the plant. In 2003, the company applied to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a solid waste management system license. If approved, this would be precedent-setting in Montana and could open the door to future proposals to burn other types of toxic waste as "fuel."
The incineration of rubber tires releases a host of toxic chemicals including dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and PCBs. These toxic chemicals are related to health problems including cancer, reproductive impairment, and developmental delays.
In 2003, the DEQ released a draft Environmental Assessment in 2003 and determined that a full Environmental Impact Statement was needed. A Final Environmental Impact Statement was released in summer 2006. A final draft permit is expected to be released by the DEQ in Summer 2007.
Throughout this process, WVE attended public meetings, submitted comments on the assessment and provided technical and organizing support to MATB. WVE intends to continue working in direct support of MATB to prevent this permit from being issued.
For more information from Montanans Against Toxic Burning go to their website at: http://www.notoxicburning.org
WVE in the Washington Post