Displaying items by tag: EPA

US: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that 10 cements plants have received its Energy Star certification in 2022 from a total of 86 manufacturing plants across all industries. The certification is awarded to the top 25% performers in energy efficiency in each sector. The EPA cited examples of how Titan America’s Troutville plant in Virginia and its Medley plant in Florida had converted production to Portland Limestone Cement (PLC), and achieved a 12% reduction in electricity use and an 18% reduction in CO2 emissions, respectively, thanks to improved energy management. It also mentioned Cemex’s Miami plant in Florida, which increased its energy performance in 2022 by modifying a finish mill, optimising the ball charge on the largest mill and identifying and correcting potential energy losses while also increasing the production of PLC.

Cement plants awarded the Energy Star certification in 2022 include: Drake Cement’s Paulden plant and Salt River Materials Group’ Clarkdale plant in Arizona; GCC’s Pueblo plant in Colorado, Cemex’s Miami plant and Titan America’s Medley plant in Florida; Argos USA’s Harleyville plant in South Carolina; GCC’s Rapid City plant in South Dakota; Buzzi Unicem USA’s Chattanooga plant in Tennessee; Titan America’s Troutville plant in Virginia; and Ash Grove Cement’s Seattle plant in Washington.

US: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded its 2020 Energy Star® certification to Buzzi Unicem USA plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in Festus, Missouri. This certification is awarded to a facility for superior energy performance in comparison to similar plants. This marks the 12th consecutive year that the Chattanooga and Festus plants have received certification.

In order to qualify for Energy Star® recognition, cement plants must score at least 75 on the Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) system used by the EPA to measure energy efficiency. In addition, the plant must have a satisfactory environmental compliance record for the past three years. Receipt of the Energy Star certification means these two plants perform in the top 25% of similar facilities in the US.

US: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Energy Star certification to Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement subsidiary CalPortland’s 1.3Mt/yr integrated Rillito plant for the eighth consecutive year for its superior energy performance compared with other plants of comparable capacity in the country. CalPortland president and CEO Allen Hamblen said, “We continue to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and ENERGY STAR while also reducing our energy costs through the hard work of our employees and our corporate energy management culture.”

Puerto Rico: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Cemex de Puerto Rico will spend US$1.7m on pollution controls that will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the company will pay a US$160,000 penalty for Clean Air Act violations.

"Nitrogen oxides emissions can lead to a number of serious health and environmental problems, including respiratory problems, heart disease and smog," said Judith A Enck, EPA regional administrator. "The EPA settlement protects children with asthma and other vulnerable populations from harmful air pollution by requiring that Cemex install state-of-the-art technology and take immediate steps to reduce pollutants."

The Cemex cement kiln system in Ponce has operated for over 20 years and is a major source of nitrogen oxide emissions. The settlement addresses modifications Cemex made to its cement plant without obtaining the proper permit, as required by the Clean Air Act. Businesses that produce large quantities of air pollution are required to obtain permits and install pollution control technology before making changes that would significantly increase emissions.

Following an EPA inspection, Cemex conducted a smokestack test at its Ponce facility and potential violations were discovered. In the settlement, Cemex will install control technology, which will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by approximately 1423t/yr.

US: Holcim (US), part of LafargeHolcim, has announced that five of its plants earned the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star.

"We are pleased that the EPA has recognised Holcim's continued commitment to environmentally sound practices by awarding five of our plants with the Energy Star Award," said John Stull, chief executive officer of Holcim (US). "Sustainability is a core component of our values and a priority for our employees at every plant and facility."

This marks the fourth time Holcim's Portland plant in Florence, Colorado and the Midlothian plant in Midlothian, Texas have received the award, while the Devil's Slide plant in Morgan, Utah has been honoured for its eight consecutive year. The Holly Hill plant in Holly Hill, South Carolina and the Ste. Genevieve plant in Bloomsdale, Missouri are both receiving the award for the sixth time.

US: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the first national regulations to provide for the safe disposal of coal ash from coal-fired power plants. The ruling establishes safeguards to protect communities from coal ash impoundment failures and establishes safeguards to prevent groundwater contamination and air emissions from coal ash disposal.

"The EPA is taking action to protect our communities from the risk of mismanaged coal ash disposal units and putting in place safeguards to help prevent the next catastrophic coal ash impoundment failure, which can cost millions for local businesses, communities and States," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

The new federal regulations include:

• The closure of surface impoundments and landfills that fail to meet engineering and structural standards and will no longer receive coal ash;
• Reducing the risk of catastrophic failure by requiring regular inspections of the structural safety of surface impoundments;
• Restrictions on the location of new surface impoundments and landfills so that they cannot be built in sensitive areas such as wetlands and earthquake zones;
• Protecting groundwater by requiring monitoring, immediate clean up of contamination and closure of unlined surface impoundments that are polluting groundwater;
• Protecting communities using fugitive dust controls to reduce windblown coal ash dust;
• Requiring liner barriers for new units and proper closure of surface impoundments and landfills that will no longer receive coal combustion residues.

In response to feedback on the proposal, the ruling clarifies the technical requirements for coal ash landfills and surface impoundments under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the country's primary law for regulating solid waste. Implementation of the technical requirements will be reported through disclosure to States, and communities. Examples of this include power plants providing information to the public and States and new transparency requirements, including recordkeeping and reporting requirements, as well as the requirement for each facility to post specific information to a publicly-accessible website. This final rule also supports the responsible recycling of coal ash by distinguishing safe, beneficial use from disposal.

US: Holcim (US) Inc has announced that four of its plants earned the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star award.

"Holcim is grateful to, once again, be awarded for our commitment to sustainability," said Filiberto Ruiz, president and CEO of Holcim (US) and Aggregate Industries US. "We understand how important it is for our facilities to have corporate values in place that help protect the environment and we recognise that this should be a priority each and every day."

This marks the third time that Holcim's Midlothian plant in Midlothian, Texas has received the award, while the Devil's Slide plant in Morgan, Utah has been honoured for its seventh consecutive year. The Holly Hill plant in Holly Hill, South Carolina and the St Genevieve plant in Bloomsdale, Missouri have both received the award for the fifth time.

US: Essroc's cement plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania has earned certification for superior energy efficiency from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Energy Star certification signifies that the plant performs in the top 25% of similar facilities nationally and meets the strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

The plant has recently improved its performance by managing its energy strategically across the entire organisation and by making cost-effective improvements, such as meters, LED, low-voltage lighting, timers and sensors. To earn the certification, the plant established a local energy team to discuss actions to be implemented to lower energy consumption, establish an action plan and review progress of those being implemented.

"Energy reduction is the most important part of the programme. The certification is the cherry on top of the cake," said Jean Paul-Morel, Essroc's chief electrical engineer.

China: The demolition of 17 more cement plants in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, began on 17 February 2014, two months after the first batch of demolitions to improve air quality.

"After the second batch of demolitions is finished in March 2014, we can meet the target of reducing excess capacity three years ahead of schedule, reducing production capacity by 40%," said Wang Liang, the mayor of Shijiazhuang. Hebei was hit by many smoggy days in February 2014, causing serious pollution. On 17 February 2014 the air quality index exceeded 200, classed as 'very unhealthy' by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The demolition of 18 cement grinders and 377 storage bins at the 17 plants will be completed by the end of March 2014, reducing production capacity by 9.1Mt/yr.

To control pollution, the provincial government has announced goals for cutting excess capacity in high-polluting industries, including cement production, in every city. Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, must dismantle 15Mt/yr of cement production capacity by 2017.

The two batches of demolitions have targeted 35 plants, resulting in direct economic losses of US$180m and affecting 3780 workers. "We may suffer slow economic growth in the short term, but this will work in upgrading the economic structure and will result in a good living environment for our people, so it is worthwhile," said Sun Ruibin, Party chief of Shijiazhuang.

Wang Jiangtao, marketing manager at Yuancheng Construction Material Co, one of plants being demolished in the city of Luquan, said, "We will follow the government project and want to control air pollution as well so we agreed to close the plant. But it's still sad to see the plants being demolished," he said, adding that the company had invested more than US$4.94m in a new system in 2011. "We have not made enough money to cover the expenses up to now." Under government compensation plans, the plant may get US$1.65m and will receive other support for its future business, including preferential policies and tax relief, Wang added.

Two of Jinyu Dingxing Cement Co's plants were among the first batch of demolitions in December 2013, but so far new projects have not been decided on, said Feng Jinmin, a manager at one of the two plants that were closed. "Of the US$2.47m in compensation expected from the government, we have received half and are still awaiting government guidance on our future business," he said, adding that this may take years.

US: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry groups including cement producers have failed to settle a permit dispute that is testing whether the agency has the authority to require operators of hazardous waste combustion units to conduct risk assessments that can be used to strengthen emissions limits for mercury and other pollutants when renewing the facilities' existing waste and air permits. Negotiations stalled during a meeting in November 2013 between EPA lawyers and cement kiln operators at EPA's Region V offices, according to an 8 January 2014 status report the parties filed with the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB). Litigation will continue on 20 February 2014.

The case began on 8 July 2013 when ESSROC Cement petitioned the EAB to review Region V's decision requiring a site-specific risk assessments (SSRA) at ESSROC's hazardous waste combustor facility in Logansport, Indiana, during the 2012 renewal of the facility's RCRA permit. After the facility conducted the SSRA, Region V imposed a restrictive annual mercury feed rate limit, which ESSROC said, "goes far beyond what is necessary to protect human health and the environment."

The case marks a new test for the risk assessment requirements EPA attached to its 2005 regulations governing hazardous waste combustion facilities that emit air pollutants, including cement kilns. The 2005 regulations set strict new maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the combustion facilities that burn the hazardous waste. The rule also integrated the MACT standards with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements so that facilities must comply with the MACT standards to be eligible for RCRA permits.