The Houston-based Cemex will also spend about $2 million on pollution controls to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, pollutants those agencies said can lead to childhood asthma, acid rain, and smog.
“Emissions of harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can lead to a number of serious health and environmental problems, including premature death and heart disease,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s settlement will help keep harmful air pollution out of Ohio communities, protect children with asthma and prevent region-wide public health problems.”
CEMEX USA President Gilberto Perez said in a statement to the Dayton Daily News the company voluntarily complied with the agreement, but denies some allegations outlined by the EPA.
Heather G. Chilivetis, a Cemex spokeswoman, said the EPA’s suggestion that emissions from the plant compromise the health and safety of residents “is simply false.”
She said air quality around the Fairborn plant exceeds federal ambient air quality standards. Cemex contends that the plant is, and has always been, in compliance with its air operating permits. “I am surprised and disappointed with the implications that the agency is making in their press release, which have no foundation in fact. These implications damage the credibility of the agency,” Perez said.
The $1.4 million penalty — in part for not getting a permit — will be distributed with $932,400 going to the federal government, $233,800 to the state of Ohio ($46,760 designated for Ohio EPA’s Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund) and $233,800 going to the Ohio Regional Air Pollution Control Agency.
“Through this action, the United States and Ohio will secure reductions of harmful emissions by requiring that Cemex adopt state-of-the-art technology and take immediate steps to control pollutants,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.
“The Cemex plant has been a major source of air pollution, and this settlement will result in a healthier environment for residents of Fairborn, Ohio and the surrounding region.”
Mark McDonnell, Health Commissioner of the Greene County Combined Health District, said: “The Board of Health and I are pleased that Cemex and USEPA have come to an agreement that will improve the air quality for all of Greene County.”
As part of the settlement, Cemex will install state-of-the-art control technologies that will reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxides by about 2,300 tons and sulfur dioxide by about 288 tons.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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