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Tire-burning plan bodes ill for valley's future

By Jennifer Swearingen

According to Alicia Bradshaw of the Gallatin Development Corporation (writing in the November 2002 Business to Business section of the Chronicle), "the Gallatin Valley is one of the top leaders in the state for business startups and new ventures." The factor most often cited by these vibrant new companies for locating in the Gallatin Valley is the outstanding quality of life and clean environment.


 Holcim's proposal to burn tires and other wastes in its Trident cement kiln upwind of the valley could significantly dim this economic bright spot. One crystal clear fact emerging from the health risk assessment required by the state is that dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and various other hazardous air pollutants will increase significantly with the burning of tires.

Perhaps the economic leaders of the Gallatin Valley should consult with those living in other communities where Holcim is currently burning wastes. If they did, they would find that Holcim facilities in South Carolina, Texas, Iowa and Michigan have received hefty fines for polluting the environment. In several cases, it has been documented that local residents suffer high rates of adverse health effects.

Holcim has stated that incinerating tires in its cement kiln will enable the company to save $200,000 in annual fuel costs, allowing increased profits for the foreign-owned corporation, but what will be the lost opportunity costs to the Gallatin Valley when prospective companies learn that the local cement plant is becoming a regional waste incinerator? The state, by permitting Holcim to incinerate waste tires -- most of which would come from other states -- could extinguish one of the very few bright economic lights it has been struggling to create. Alternatively, Holcim could manufacture cement using conventional fuels, increase its efficiency by modernizing its outdated plant, spare the residents of this valley the hazardous air pollutants that result from waste incineration, and still make money just like many other cement companies. And doing so would help to encourage, rather than extinguish, the Gallatin Valley's stellar economic growth.

Jennifer Swearingen

502 S. Sixth Ave.

Bozeman

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