Displaying items by tag: Cleanup

Colombia: Workers from Cemex Colombia are using vehicles volunteered by the company to transport water and disinfectant for use in street cleaning in Maceo, Antioquia department. Esmerk Latin American News has reported that the aim of the exercise is to combat the spread of coronavirus. Cemex Colombia has also donated food, water and antibacterial gel to communities around its 2.8Mt/yr Caracolito plant near Ibagué, Tomila department.

US: An agreement has been reached to clean up the site of the former Holcim cement plant in Spokane Valley, Washington, where Holcim operated a cement factory until 1967. The site was then used for cement distribution for a number of years before shutting down. In 2006, storage silos were torn down, leaving behind cement kiln dust with contaminates including arsenic, lead and cadmium, as well as benzene and gasoline associated with train activity and fuel storage on the site. Neighbouring lots owned by the city of Spokane Valley and Neighborhood Inc were also contaminated.

Because the contamination was deemed a threat to human health, the Department of Ecology got involved in working out a clean-up plan. Jeremy Schmidt, Ecology's site manager, said that a consent decree has been signed by all parties and clean-up is scheduled for the summer and autumn 2016. "Work may be delayed for one year if we can't get contractors out there at the right time," said Schmidt. The work has to done when the groundwater level is low so as not to increase contamination. The kiln dust has now turned to cement and must be scraped off, piled in one place and capped with cement to stop contaminants from leaking into soil and groundwater.

Holcim still owns the site and both Schmidt and Spokane Valley Attorney Cary Driskell said that the company has been responsive and responsible. "They have been very easy to work with," said Driskell. He added that there was a range of options for the cleanup, with costs ranging from US$1.6 – 10m. "It will not cost Spokane Valley anything."