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Tough new mercury rules loom for Cupertino cement plant

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 25, 2009 at 7:56 am

From the Silicon Valley Mercury News:

For 70 years, it has sat on Cupertino’s western edges, like a vast bite out of the surrounding green foothills. With a deep limestone quarry and blazing kiln, the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant has made the cement that built northern California — from Shasta Dam to Highway 101.

But the plant is also one of the Bay Area’s largest polluters. And now the hulking facility, along with other cement plants across the nation, is facing a historic crackdown from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce everything from mercury to soot emissions.

“The cement industry has flown under the radar for the last 20 years. And they are a major polluter,” said Jim Pew, an attorney with Earthjustice, a Washington, D.C., environmental group.

Cement industry leaders call the proposed regulations an unreasonably strict blow during a recession that will drive up the cost of homes, roads and bridges.

Read more from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.

June 25, 2009 · Filed Under Bay Area

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