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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A cement kiln in Eastern Oregon may not have to limit its toxic mercury releases after federal regulators concluded it would be too expensive a burden for such plants nationally.
Oregon air quality officials, however, said they are looking closely at the kiln operated by Ash Grove Cement Co. in Durkee and may set their own limits on mercury vented by the plant.
The Durkee facility released more than an estimated ton of mercury into the air in 2004, about 10 times more than the state’s next largest mercury source — Portland General Electric’s coal-fired power plant near Boardman.
Preliminary estimates for 2005, however, show mercury emissions from the Durkee plant decreased to 1,538 pounds while emissions from the Boardman plant increased to 281 pounds.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decision against limits on cement plant mercury comes just as Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission prepares to meet Friday to consider mercury limits on PGE’s Boardman power plant.
But the Durkee cement kiln is a major mercury source, outdone only by a California cement plant and a Nevada gold mine, according to 2004 emissions estimates reported to the EPA.
The EPA had faced a court order to set limits on mercury from cement plants, but it decided to set limits only on new plants — not existing ones like the plant in Durkee. The benefits of imposing limits on existing plants is not worth the cost, officials said.
“We felt looking overall at the national impacts, for an average case, it was not justified,” said Keith Barnett of the EPA.
Mercury collects in the food chain — especially in fish — and causes neurological damage and birth defects. Some forms of the compound fall out of the air quickly, while others can travel thousands of miles around the globe.
The EPA issued its decision late Friday, about two weeks after officials of Ash Grove and the Portland Cement Association met with high-level budget officials in the Bush administration and argued against limits on mercury emissions.
EPA officials would not say this week what influence the meeting had on their decision.
Oregon air quality officials, however, said they are looking closely at the kiln operated by Ash Grove Cement Co. in Durkee and may set their own limits on mercury vented by the plant.
The Durkee facility released more than an estimated ton of mercury into the air in 2004, about 10 times more than the state’s next largest mercury source — Portland General Electric’s coal-fired power plant near Boardman.
Preliminary estimates for 2005, however, show mercury emissions from the Durkee plant decreased to 1,538 pounds while emissions from the Boardman plant increased to 281 pounds.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decision against limits on cement plant mercury comes just as Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission prepares to meet Friday to consider mercury limits on PGE’s Boardman power plant.
But the Durkee cement kiln is a major mercury source, outdone only by a California cement plant and a Nevada gold mine, according to 2004 emissions estimates reported to the EPA.
The EPA had faced a court order to set limits on mercury from cement plants, but it decided to set limits only on new plants — not existing ones like the plant in Durkee. The benefits of imposing limits on existing plants is not worth the cost, officials said.
“We felt looking overall at the national impacts, for an average case, it was not justified,” said Keith Barnett of the EPA.
Mercury collects in the food chain — especially in fish — and causes neurological damage and birth defects. Some forms of the compound fall out of the air quickly, while others can travel thousands of miles around the globe.
The EPA issued its decision late Friday, about two weeks after officials of Ash Grove and the Portland Cement Association met with high-level budget officials in the Bush administration and argued against limits on mercury emissions.
EPA officials would not say this week what influence the meeting had on their decision.
