The team at Lafarge Ravena has been busy since we received the permits last year to modernize our plant.

The first phase required for a construction project of this type focuses on preparing the ground, demolishing structures and installing proper storm management systems.

Here’s a video of the work currently underway on our Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan or SWPPP (pronounced “swip”).

This man-made water basin is designed to gather on-site storm water and remove any sediment before discharging clean water back to the system. You may also notice similar systems being used at places such as newer shopping plazas in our area.

Our next step will involve the installation of foundations to support new buildings, structures and equipment related to the modernization effort.

We will keep you posted with new pictures and video as we continue making progress.

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.

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.

Frequent visitors to the LafargeRavenaFacts.com website may notice a couple minor changes to the home page.

The first new item is the green “What is Modernization?” pop-up button, located in the top left corner. This button is the fastest way to learn more about the Ravena Plant’s plans to modernize. Simply click the button to get a complete at-a-glance summary of the proposed modernization plans, as well as the potential economic and environmental benefits the new plant will offer.

For more information about the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) click the blue banner that runs along the top of the home page. Once clicked you’ll have access to the following:

And as always you can use the handy search box located about halfway down the left navigational panel to search for any key terms, photos, or facts you may want to find.

Have a quick look at the new features, and enjoy!

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held its public comment meeting last week at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School. The meeting provided the community with an opportunity to officially comment on the draft permits and DEIS for our proposed Ravena Plant Modernizaton project. We appreciated the strong support and advice from the community to further improve our project.

I made a few remarks and thanked the community for all of their interest, support and input in our project over the past two years.

Approximately 70 people attended the meeting.

Members of the audience took turns going up to the mic to share their comments with the DEC.

Along with members of the community, a number of elected officials and business leaders also attended to offer their strong support for the modernization project.

The DEC will continue to accept comment letters from the public until February 22. Click here to send your letter of support today.