EPA says ‘no’ to Ore. cement plant on mercury but may offer extra time to comply with rules

EPA says ‘no’ to Ore. cement plant on mercury

BAKER CITY, Ore. — Federal regulators have declined to create a special category of mercury emission rules that Ash Grove Cement Co. has said is vital to continue operating its factory in Baker County.

But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may consider giving the company extra time to comply with new emissions limits.

The Baker City Herald reported Monday that the agency acknowledged the effort Ash Grove has already made to substantially reduce mercury emissions from its plant near Durkee, about 25 miles southeast of Baker City.

The central issue is the type of limestone that Ash Grove quarries near the Durkee plant and uses in the cement-making process there.

The limestone contains more mercury than is typical in that type of rock.

As a result, the Durkee plant releases more of the toxic metal than most other cement plants, making it the second-largest source of airborne mercury in the country, according to the EPA.

In the new rules the agency announced Monday, the EPA notes the unusually high levels of mercury in limestone at the Durkee quarry constitutes “a unique challenge” for Ash Grove in trying to comply with the limits.

Ash Grove, although not required to do so, has spent about $20 million over the past two years to install equipment that removes about 90 percent of the mercury from the Durkee factory.

The effort still falls short of the new EPA requirement by more than 5 percent.

Ash Grove officials say they can’t meet the EPA standard with current technology.

Andrew Whelan, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, said the Republican who represents Eastern Oregon is disappointed the EPA didn’t include a subcategory for cement plants that use mercury-rich limestone.

But Whelan said Walden is optimistic that the agency will at least consider giving Ash Grove more time to comply with the new limits.

The factory is one of Baker County’s larger private employers, with 116 workers. It pays almost $1 million per year in property taxes to the county, or more than 10 percent of the county’s general fund budget.

Information from: Baker City Herald, www.bakercityherald.com/