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Holcim files updated tire-burning application

By KAYLEY MENDENHALL Chronicle Staff Writer

The final information for Holcim Inc.'s tire-burning application was sent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality Friday just as the company's extended deadline was about to expire.


 "We met our (May) 31st deadline," said Nicole Prokop, environmental manager of the Trident plant. "We didn't ask for an extension. We gave them what they asked for and now we sit and wait for them to ask for something else."

Holcim submitted its original air permit application to burn tires for fuel to the DEQ in October. Since then the department has twice asked for more complete information, particularly regarding health risks and air-pollution emissions.

Mostly, the department wanted more detailed computer models showing exactly which pollutants will come out of the cement kiln stack when tires are burned and where those pollutants may end up.

"Once we get everything together, we'll start looking at the big picture and determine if there are other incompleteness items," said Mark Peterson of the DEQ. "Today is day zero again. We have 30 days to review the application."

Experts will review the computer modeling data, and Peterson said if the department determines the application is still incomplete it can be returned to the company for further information. If the department determines the application is complete, it will then decide whether to grant the permit.

The application has sparked local controversy in the past year as environmental and public health advocates publicly addressed concerns that tire burning will harm the community.

Kayley Mendenhall is at kmendenhall@dailychronicle.com

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