Updated on January 11 to include Cemex statement.
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission held an online public hearing on Jan. 5 to discuss the renewal of a permit for Cemex’s Longmont Lyons cement plant in Boulder County, as reported by local media. The residential advocacy group Good Neighbors of Lyons requested the hearing.
Good Neighbors of Lyons co-founder Sarah Lorang said the Cemex plant “has been flying under the radar despite being non-compliant” and that consequences should be tangible. Speaking on behalf of the group, she suggested modifying the permit by adding better monitoring requirements, stricter conditions, and harsher penalties for non-compliance with air quality standards.
The Cemex plant has been the subject of community scrutiny for years. During the hearing, many local residents cited a lack of transparency by the company, specifically for not disclosing emission violations or data.
Last year, the state’s Air Pollution Control Division fined the plant $375,000 for multiple violations in 2020 and 2021. The agency said it was also investigating undisclosed violations found in 2022.
Cemex provided the following statement regarding the hearing:
Cemex understands the importance of public comment as part of our Title V permit renewal process and respects the engagement from our community on our shared commitment to environmental protection. Cemex has always supported open dialogue and comments from the public concerning our operations. While we have been part of the community for many years, it is important to understand that our Lyons Cement Plant is held to all current state and federal air quality regulations, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Air Quality Control Commission. We use state-of-the-art equipment to continuously monitor emissions, as well as conduct visual inspections of our facility throughout each day.
Cemex prioritizes being a good neighbor in the communities where we live and operate. The cement we produce has been crucial to the development of roads, hospitals, businesses, schools and other infrastructure that improve safety, mobility, and quality of life not only in the Town of Lyons and Boulder County, but throughout Colorado.
As we await renewal of our permit, our commitment to the community does not stop and we will continue the positive work we’ve always conducted at the Lyons Cement Plant.
Colorado Air Quality Control Commission officials did not give a timeline for a decision on the permit renewal.
