In conjunction with Community Advocates for Safe Emissions, Dr. Ward Stone, State Wildlife Pathologist, will reveal preliminary findings associated with his testing of soil and small wildlife for mercury and other heavy metals that may have been contaminated by toxic air emissions from the Lafarge Cement Plant on Route 9W in Ravena.  

In response to community requests, Dr. Stone will provide an update on his study and describe his findings to date. In 2007, the Lafarge Cement Plant in Ravena was identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the 4th dirtiest cement kiln in the nation, having reported emissions of some 400 lbs of mercury annually for 2003 until 2006. While many are concerned about mercury, it may not be the only problem. EPA data show that Lafarge emits annually a wide range of other heavy metals and hazardous substances that disperse over significant portions of Albany, Greene, Columbia and Rensselaer counties.