The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has approved our plan to modernize the existing Lafarge Ravena plant. This is a critical and exciting step that will allow us to upgrade our operation, protect and create jobs, and further improve the overall environmental performance of the facility.

The DEC accepted Lafarge’s Final Environmental Impact Statement on July 9 and issued the permits on July 19.

We would like to thank the public, advocates, and community and business leaders for their widespread support throughout this effort.

Renovating the Ravena plant will make it the most advanced cement facility in New York State, and keep us competitive in the future. For three years we have worked weith the DEC and the community to make this
project the best that it can be.

In 2008, we submitted a proposal to replace our existing wet process cement kilns with a cleaner, more efficient, single dry process cement kiln, to the DEC.

The new process will reduce specific air emissions and add continuous monitoring systems, ensuring compliance with stringent emission limits. The dry kiln technology will also reduce fuel use and produce less solid waste, while using less water, and allowing zero wastewater discharges. Our new facility will be, simply put, even more efficient.

The modernization project is anticipated to protect the 180 existing union and non-union jobs at the Ravena plant, while creating nearly 800 additional temporary jobs during construction.

The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2014, following the formal approval of the project by the Lafarge North America Board of Directors.

The permit documents can be viewed here.

Hard copies of the documents are also available at the Coeyman’s, Stuyvesant, Chatham, Kinderhook, Schodack, and New Baltimore town halls and the Kinderhook Memorial, North Chatham Free, RCS Community, Chatham Public, and Valatie Free libraries.

As reported in The Daily Mail, the DEC accepted our Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

This is a significant step in the modernization process that brings the proposed project closer to final approval.

The new regulatory documents – as well as past documents – can be accessed by clicking here or using the blue button at the top of the home page.

You can also view the FEIS table of contents and executive summary in the window below:

It’s not typical of any business to encourage its employees to get behind the wheel of a company vehicle while impaired or to text their friends and family. As a matter of fact, it very much goes against Lafarge’s stringent safety policy. Call it opposite day if you’d like, but this is exactly what was asked of employees at the Lafarge Ravena Plant on a recent plant safety training event.

In recognition of National Safety Month, on June 7, employees were given the opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience first-hand the dangers of operating a vehicle while texting or incapacitated. Employees were fitted with vision impairment goggles to simulate the sight limitations of someone who is under the influence, while others were asked to text, while driving golf carts around a safety track set up at the plant.

It was a fun way to “drive” home a serious message: safety first!

A Lafarge employee sports vision impairment goggles to simulate being under the influence while driving a golf cart.

Another employee is texting while maneuvering his cart through the course.

Last week, employees from Lafarge Ravena took time out of their busy schedules to give back to the local community.

Twice a year, as many as 30 Lafarge workers donate blood for the American Red Cross Blood Services Division for the Albany District. Also, twice a year, a dozen Lafarge workers clean up trash along 1.5 miles of Rt. 9W and another mile of Rt. 144.

One group made blood donations as part of the American Red Cross’ annual blood drive at the plant.

A separate group of employees volunteered to clean up Route 9W in the town of Coeymans as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

It was a productive outing and I know we all look forward to our next one.

I recently delivered a presentation at the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce where I reviewed the plans for the proposed Lafarge plant modernization along with the benefits it will offer to the Ravena community and the environment. To learn more about the project click here.

It was a great opportunity, with a great turnout.

I’d like to thank the Chamber and guests for giving me a chance to share this exciting information in their public forum.