Sludge Watch ==> Group demand Ontario kill toxic plan to burn tires and trash

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

sludgewatch admin:

This cement  plant is looking for a permit to burn BSE risk animal meal as 
well as bone meal....and pelletized municipal waste...but they say they mean 
trash pellets (?) not sludge.


................................................................................

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release	May 18, 2006

Groups demand Ontario kill toxic plan to burn tires and trash



Data reveals up to 3,400% increase in toxic emissions from tire-burning
cement kiln


TORONTO –A coalition of concerned groups blasted the Province of Ontario and
Lafarge Canada today over the cement company's controversial proposal to
burn massive amounts of tires, trash and animal rendering waste in an
antiquated cement kiln in Bath, Ontario.  The groups highlighted startling
increases in emissions of toxic chemicals from Lafarge's tire-burning cement
kiln near Montreal and slammed the company's plans to import millions of
tires into Ontario each year from eight US states and Quebec.


At a press conference at Queen's Park today, Sierra Legal Defence Fund,
Loyalist Environmental Coalition and Toronto Environmental Alliance released
startling data from Lafarge's cement facility in Saint-Constant, Quebec
where the company began burning tires in its cement kiln several years ago.
Collected and self-reported by Lafarge under Environment Canada's National
Pollutant Release Inventory program, the data reveals increases of up to
3,400% in airborne releases of heavy metals and other toxic emissions
between 2000 and 2004 and directly contradicts the company's categorical
denial that burning tires and other wastes has a negative impact on local
air quality and the environment.


“Lafarge categorically denies that burning tires in their cement kilns has a
negative impact on local air quality and that we should look to their
operations in Quebec, but their own data from Saint-Constant reveals
shocking increases in emissions of heavy metals and potent carcinogens like
dioxins and furans – some of the most toxic substances known to science,”
said Sierra Legal scientist Dr. Elaine MacDonald. "In 2004, Lafarge's
Saint-Constant facility was the second largest source of dioxins and furans
in the province with emissions equivalent to the maximum acceptable annual
intake of dioxin for a population of more than 3 million people."


Despite growing local opposition and repeated calls for a public and
scientific analysis of the proposal's impact on air and water quality, the
province has so far refused to subject this precedent-setting proposal to a
full environmental assessment. Last month several groups and concerned
citizens filed submissions under Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights
critical of Lafarge's proposal and demanding a comprehensive environment
assessment and a proper public consultation process.

“With the outrageous increases in emissions at Lafarge's tire-burning plant
in Quebec, it is clear that the Ministry of Environment must do the right
thing and reject this ill-conceived plan,” said Martin Hauschild, President
of the Loyalist Environmental Coalition.  “We cannot allow our community's
air, water and citizenry to become a dumping ground for dangerous chemicals
and millions of tires from the US.”

Lafarge’s proposal includes plans to burn up to 100 tonnes of used tires,
pelletized municipal waste, various types of animal meal, plastics and other
materials per day, 365 days a year. The materials would be burnt as a
so-called replacement fuel.

"By burning tires, Ontario is creating a solution to a problem that should
not exist," said Gord Perks from the Toronto Environmental Alliance. "Just
two weeks ago the province delayed plans to introduce a recycling program
for used tires in Ontario."

"If the province intends to allow Lafarge to import this witches brew of
tires, trash and bones from the US to be burned at the expense of the health
of Ontario communities, it will have a serious legal battle on their hands,"
said Sierra Legal lawyer Christine Elwell.
-30-

For further information please read our Media Backgrounder or contact:
Hauschild, President, Loyalist Environmental Coalition (613) 296 4355 cell
Christine Elwell, Staff Lawyer, Sierra Legal (416) 368 7533 ext 29
Elaine MacDonald, Senior Scientist, Sierra Legal (416) 368 7533 ext 27
Gord Perks, Toronto Environmental Alliance (416) 596 0660


MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
Lafarge Saint-Constant Air Emissions
·	Lafarge's cement facility in Saint-Constant, Quebec, just south of
Montreal, began burning tires several years ago in the facility's cement
kiln as a replacement fuel
·	Sierra Legal examined the most recent data available from Environment
Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory. This information is
self-collected and reported by the company to the federal government.
·	During the period 2000-2004 there were huge increases in the emissions of
various chemicals including: cadmium (3,064%), chromium (609%), copper
(3,441%), lead (141%), manganese (1,915%), nickel (1,028%) and zinc
(1,139%), sulphur dioxide (145%) and particulate matter-2.5 (122%)
·	During the same period, releases of dioxins and furans – some of the most
toxic chemicals known to science – increased by 742%, making the
Saint-Constant facility the second largest emitter of dioxins in Quebec
·	Based on the Dioxin Assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection
Act, the 2004 emissions of 0.826 grams Total Equivalents (TEQ) at the
Saint-Constant facility are equivalent to the maximum acceptable annual
intake of dioxin for a population of more than 3 million people
Lafarge's Proposal
·	Lafarge Canada is a subsidiary of the world's largest cement producer,
based in France
·	The company's proposal would utilize a 1974-built cement kiln at Lafarge's
plant in Bath, Ontario to burn waste materials as a source of fuel for the
production of cement products
·	Lafarge's proposal includes burning up to 100 tonnes per day of used
tires, pelletized municipal waste, animal meal, non-recyclable plastics and
solid shredded materials and by-products, including pulp and paper
by-products and agricultural by-products
·	The proposal includes importing hundreds of tonnes of materials from
across Ontario, Quebec, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and Massachusetts
·	The proposal does not include the addition of any pollution control
mechanisms
Environmental Bill of Rights Submission
·	Last month Sierra Legal filed comments concerning the proposal on behalf
of a local citizen’s group, the Loyalist Environmental Coalition under
Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights
·	The submission slams Lafarge's proposal and demands a comprehensive
environment assessment and proper public consultation process.
·	The submission is supported by the Toronto Environmental Alliance, Sierra
Club Atlantic Chapter, Iroquois Group of Central New York and Sierra Club of
Canada (Ontario Chapter).
·	In light of potential trans-boundary air pollution issues and Government
of Canada's responsibilities under the Canada-US Air Quality Agreement and
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act the groups forwarded the submissions
to Canada’s Minister of the Environment and New York State Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer
Please note that materials available for download from www.sierralegal.org
include: A map of waste import jurisdictions; Graphs of Saint-Constant air
emissions; Image of Lafarge facility in Bath; and the groups' EBR
Submission.
Christine  Elwell
Staff Lawyer
Sierra Legal Defence Fund
30 St. Patrick Street, Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5T 3A3
Tel. 416.368.7533 (ext. 29)
Fax 416.363.2746
www.sierralegal.org
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