Cement plant penalty issued
Some of $850,000 to go toward stormwater project
By Rick Karlin
The Town of Coeymans is looking at amending its emissions laws that would impact the LaFarge Holcim cement plant.
Ravena
Federal and state officials on Thursday said they reached a settlement regarding alleged water quality violations at the La-Farge Holcim cement plant in which leachate was reportedly flowing into the Hudson River.
Holcim agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty and to comply with the rules set forth in its discharge permit going forward, said Antoinette Bacon, acting U.S Attorney for the Northern District of New York. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New York state were also parties to the agreement. Half the penalty will go to the state and half to the federal government.
Of the penalty obtained by the state, $212,000 will be used as seed money for a “green” stormwater infrastructure project at Coeymans Landing Park, Attorney General Letitia James’ office said, adding that the project will use natural structures and processes to remove pollution from storm-water, and will be built to reduce harmful runoff into the Hudson River.
The settlement resolves allegations in legal complaints by state and federal officials that, between April 2015 and April 2021, the facility violated the effluent limitations 273 times for pollutants such as fecal coliform, suspended solids and solids.
They also alleged unauthorized discharges of sulfuric acid and discharges of partially treated landfill leachate to tributaries of the Hudson River, such as Coeymans Creek and Hannacroix Creek.
Sulfuric acid is used to reduce the alkalinity from kiln dust that ends up in holding ponds.
During negotiations with state and federal officials, Holcim made substantial improvements to its stormwater and leachate management practices to address the violations at issue.
That included the demolition and removal of two failing slurry basins, and installing an impermeable geomembranebacked drain along a portion of the perimeter of its landfill. The company has also agreed to undertake additional measures.
“This settlement will benefit the Hudson River, and help preserve this treasured resource for future generations,” said Bacon.
The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. To view a copy of the consent decree and for information on how to submit a comment, visit www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.