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.

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.

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.