Some questions for Holcim about tire-burning plan

By Christopher Spogis

HEY, Holcim! Let's see comprehensive emission figures, both now and during tire burning. Then lets see the overall risk assessment for your proposal.

What about those upsets that plague you? Six percent of your operating time is during upsets. The pollution control devices are turned off during that time. Those measurements would open eyes.

What is the chemical analysis for a typical tire? There isn't that much lead, mercury or zinc in each one is there? But then, we are talking 1.137 million tires aren't we? Do you think cadmium from white wall tires will have much local impact the way it turns to a gas on it's way out the stack? Do those other metals end up in the cement, in the air, or in the cement klinker dust? Do you dispose of that dust in a proper hazardous waste landfill? Seems too dangerous to put it in the cement what with all those people handling it. If those emissions go out the stack, do they get transported to Great Falls before they disperse? You used their air dispersion model to figure where it goes. Too bad. Gallatin Field feels left out. Maybe it was just a cheap cost-saving oversight.

Why was it that you decided not to use the best available pollution control technology for this proposal while other kilns do? It would cost a lot in lost profits to have to install scrubbers just to protect the health of the locals and to protect the property values and the overall quality of life for most residents.

I'll be waiting for your reply while I'm writing to the DEQ to find out why they used your narrow assessment of risks that doesn't address so many of these issues. I hope that this time they'll turn on the lights.

Christopher Spogis

613 N. Tracy Ave.

Bozeman

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