We promised to make the posters featured at our Information Fairs (held in Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer counties this fall) available.

We’ve created a page where you can now access all 13 of the posters, complete with captions.

Many of the visitors who attended our Information Fairs found them to be very helpful. Hopefully you will too.

The modernization project hit a big milestone.

The DEC publicly released the Notice of Completion Application for Lafarge’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This is a key step in the approval process for our proposed modernization project.

Once modernized, our new plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art air pollution control technology that will improve air quality and continuous monitoring systems to ensure compliance with stringent emission limits. The new dry kiln technology we propose to install will also reduce fuel use, produce less solid waste, use less water from the Hudson River, and allow for zero wastewater discharges, making the new facility even more efficient.

The DEC also announced dates for the public information session for our proposed plant modernization project (December 8, 2010), and public comment hearing (January 21, 2011).

Our website is currently hosting the modernization project DEIS and draft permits for viewing and download by the public.

Check them out by clicking here.

Here’s an excerpt from a story the Catskill Daily Mail recently ran updating the status of Lafarge Ravena’s draft Title V (5) Air and Operating Permit – the environmental permit that regulates airborne emissions and safeguards air quality:

Our draft permit – which contains a first-of-its-kind mercury emissions cap for a cement plant – has been sent by the DEC to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for final review. The DEC also released to the public its responses to questions provided by members of the community at the hearing and by mail.

We are pleased the public was given an extended opportunity to provide comment on our permit and we’ll update you on our progress as it moves forward.

Here are a few photos from the DEC’s public hearing on Lafarge Ravena’s Title V Permit renewal held last night in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School.

Including me, almost 30 people spoke last night. I talked briefly about our permit and the importance of public input to the regulatory process. Click here to see my full remarks.

The team at Lafarge Ravena thanks everyone who attended last night’s meeting.