Latest News
Longmont Times-Call: Group Challenges CEMEX Permit >>
Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action Challenges CEMEX's Pollution Permit: Company Failing to use Best Pollution Controls Required by Law >>
Can CEMEX Reduce Smog Forming Pollution by 80% or More? The Answer Seems to be "Yes" >>
Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action and cleaning up the CEMEX cement plant on KGNU. Listen here >>
April 4, 2007 Update: Environmental Protection Agency Follows Suit, Cites CEMEX for Clean Air Violations >>
Boulder Daily Camera: Lawsuit Could Improve Public Health >>
NEWS RELEASE: Citizens to File Suit for Clean Air in Boulder County, Lyons Cement Plant's Smokestack Lacks Pollution Controls, Putting Families and Rocky Mountain National Park at Risk >>
Support our efforts to hold CEMEX accountable to clean air today: Please make a donation! >>
A Dirty Cement Plant in Lyons, Colorado
Air pollution from the coal burning cement plant in the community of Lyons, Colorado has increased by over 1000%, putting the health of the region at risk. Located only 15 miles north of Boulder and less than 20 miles away from Rocky Mountain National 
Park, the cement plant releases as much air pollution as over 130,000 vehicles.
Mercury, arsenic, dioxins, and formaldehye, all toxic chemicals, are also spewed by the smokestack, shown to the right with a visible plume blowing west to Lyons and Rocky Mountain National Park. Owned by CEMEX, Inc. a multinational corporation headquartered in Mexico, the cement plant is a chronic violator of clean air laws. Last year, the company was assessed a $1.5 million fine for over 72,000 clean air violations.
A History of Increasing Air Pollution
Since 1979, the cement plant’s air pollution has steadily increased. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, have increased from 277 tons per year to 2,649 tons per year from the kiln smokestack. Nitrogen oxides, which are products of coal burning, pose a slew of dangers:
They react with sunlight to form ozone, also known as smog. Health standards for smog were exceeded in Boulder and in Rocky Mountain National Park last summer.
They form acid rain and deteriorate clean water and soils. Acid rain and nitrogen deposition in waters and on soils are key threats to the health of Rocky Mountain National Park. Nitrogen deposition in the Park is seven times higher than natural background levels due to air pollution.
They form microscopic particulate pollution. Health standards for microscopic particulate pollution were exceeded in Boulder five times just this February.
Under the Clean Air Act, best available pollution controls must be used to limit emission increases. Despite massive increases in pollution, CEMEX has not installed controls. With modern pollution controls installed, nitrogen oxide emissions could be reduced by 90% or more, along with reductions in other harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. With so much at stake, it is important that CEMEX invest in these controls today.
The benefits to the community, to families, and to Rocky Mountain National Park will be invaluable.
Citizens Take Action
Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is now planning to take the CEMEX cement plant to federal court. The goal? To protect our communities and Rocky Mountain National Park by securing strong pollution controls. Nitrogen oxides and other harmful pollutants need to be kept in check and the CEMEX cement plant needs to be cleaned up.
This is not about shutting down a cement plant, this is about protecting clean air. Citizens are exercising their rights under the Clean Air Act to hold CEMEX accountable to the law, our air, our health, and our quality of life.
BACK >>
