By Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 Reporter
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Environmental Groups Reach Air Quality Agreement In Midlothian
Dallas, TX –
Catherine Cuellar, 90.1 Reporter: The Blue Skies Alliance and Downwinders at Risk announced this morning that they will drop their legal action to block Holcim's permit to increase production and emissions at their Midlothian cement plant. In exchange, Holcim is investing two and a quarter million dollars in projects to improve air quality in north Texas and will be one of the first in the U.S.to test cleaner technologies in their facilities. Wendi Hammond of the Blue Skies Alliance praised the deal.
Wendi Hammond, Blue Skies Alliance: Litigation through the courts simply cannot address all of the problems that need to be addressed with north Texas air quality. The administrative process is very frustrating for citizens because the state is limited in what it can do. By going outside the parameters of litigation, environmental groups and citizens are able to work with industry to find ways - innovative, creative ways that make a real impact for our air quality.
Cuellar: Holcim's Vice President for Environmental Affairs Roxanna Mirza said the company wanted to get three things from the agreement..
Roxanna Mirza, Holcim Vice President for Environmental Affairs: Our first objective is obvious - we wanted to clear the path for our permit. Our second objective, equally important, was to build on the dialogue with citizens that we had started through the establishment of our community advisory committees. 2:10 2:30 The third objective was to make sure that any resources that were expended on this went into getting real environmental benefits.
Cuellar: Holcim will spend 120 thousand dollars over five years for an independent scientist approved by the environmental groups to monitor the Midlothian plant, assess the new technology, and evaluate future modifications. And Holcim will comply with more stringent air quality standards during peak ozone season, May 1st through September 30th. The agreement proves that good air quality and good business aren't exclusive, according to environmentalist Jim Schermbeck of Downwinders at Risk.
Jim Schermbeck, Downwinders at Risk: They'll be known from here on out as the company that was willing to come to the table and negotiate a settlement with environmentalists and I think that will attract a lot of new business for them from institutions and governments in this area who are interested in clean air.
Cuellar: So far Holcim is the only one of Midlothian's three cement plants to voluntarily reach an agreement with environmentalists and the EPA to clean up north Texas air. Schermbeck criticized the absence of government officials, especially from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ, at this morning's announcement.
Schermbeck: Local and state governments should be embarrassed that they are not included in this agreement. It's unfortunate that the actions of these governments have not yet caught up to their rhetoric. Undoubtedly the agency most embarrassed by this agreement is TCEQ. The private sector and the environmental groups are way ahead of the state agency on that front. And it's shameful that when our air is most at risk, local and state government is absent or complicit.
Cuellar: Glenn Shankle, TCEQ's executive director responded in an e-mail, saying
TCEQ orchestrated these parties entering negotiations, and encouraged them to settle their differences and come up with an agreement. TCEQ staff will now evaluate the permit conditions agreed upon to make sure they are acceptable.
Schermbeck of Downwinders at Risk said it was the Environmental Protection Agency and regional administrator Richard Greene who got things done. Greene responded in kind, praising the environmentalists and Holcim.
Mayor Richard Greene, EPA Regional Administrator: Bringing together all the people who have a stake in the cause for clean air in a cooperative environment so that progress can be made at the local level is the best approach to reaching that successful conclusion.
Cuellar: The agreement ends more than a year of negotiations. Environmentalists are also fighting a pending permit for a Midlothian cement plant run by TXI, but hope a settlement can be reached.
For KERA 90.1, I'm Catherine Cuellar.
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