Lehigh plans upgrades following alleged violations of Clean Air Act

In a settlement to resolve the alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Lehigh Cement Co and Lehigh White Cement Co have agreed to invest approximately US$12m in pollution control technology at their 11 Portland cement manufacturing plants, announced the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"This settlement with Lehigh and Lehigh White will significantly reduce harmful air emissions at their cement plants nationwide," said Bruce Gelber, deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. 

The United States alleges in its complaint that on more than one occasion, the companies failed to obtain pre-construction permits and install and operate the appropriate nitrogen NO_x and SO₂ control technology for major modifications at their cement manufacturing plants, according to the EPA website.

As a result of the findings, Lehigh will install and operate SNCR systems at between 8-10 kilns, and meet emission limits that are consistent with the current best available control technology (BACT) at each kiln. At the remaining four kilns, Lehigh already has SNCR installed.

For controlling SO₂, Lehigh will install and continuously operate lime injection systems at five or six kilns and meet low SO₂ emission limits at all kilns. Additionally, Lehigh will replace old diesel engines in several off-road vehicles at some of its plant sites, reducing NO_x emissions by an estimated 25tpa.