Holcim a pollution problem even without burning tires

By Kris Thomas

Holcim's Trident Plant, north of Three Forks, is having serious problems controlling the pollution coming out of its smokestack. The situation is serious enough that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking into the situation and is expecting a report from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by the end of the year.

So it was with some sadness that I read (Chronicle, Sunday, Dec. 8) that our state officials, the very folks we have entrusted to protect our Montana skies, downplay this problem as "routine" or normal operating conditions. Because, in fact, it is not and should not be considered routine.

The cement plant has reported over 380 hours (16 days) of uncontrolled emissions the first three quarters of this year alone, the result of more than 300 "upsets." Upsets occur when a plant malfunctions and the pollution control equipment shuts off allowing an uncontrolled release of pollutants. By mid-November the Chronicle reported 440 upset hours.

John Raudsep, the DEQ compliance officer, is quoted in the Chronicle (Dec. 8) "they (Holcim) have done a lot of work to correct those (problems) and I have seen a drop in those (problems)." The statistics available from DEQ show the opposite -- they show an overall increase in upsets through the first three quarters of this year.

The most common reason cited for Holcim's upsets is "high combustibles, low oxygen" which means they're having difficulties controlling the temperature in their kiln. This is a recurring problem in their process, not one-time mechanical problems as implied by Mr. Raudsep.

When the toxins emitted from the proposed tire burning are added to this scenario, the pollution control problems could be even more serious, and the risks to our children's health, air quality, and local agriculture even greater.

Kris Thomas

719 S. Sixth Ave.

Bozeman

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