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The Maryland Department of the Environment recently announced two significant actions that will reduce mercury emissions and resolve alleged emissions of particulates at Lehigh Cement Company’s Union Bridge plant in Carroll County.
During the Summer of 2009, MDE filed a Complaint in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleging that for four months in 2007, the particulate emissions from the Union Bridge plant cement kiln and clinker cooler stacks exceeded the permit limits. The resolution of the case requires actions designed to prevent future violations, including more frequent stack-testing and weekly inspections of pollution control equipment that prevents particulate matter from escaping into the air. Lehigh will also pay a $202,500 penalty.
Particulate matter, which can consist of airborne solid particles or liquid droplets, is a significant public health concern. Particles small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs can cause several cardiopulmonary health problems and can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.
In a separate matter, Lehigh agreed to install and operate equipment to reduce mercury pollution by March 2012, one year ahead of expected federal requirements. The mercury controls are expected to reduce mercury emissions from the Union Bridge plant by approximately 80 percent from current levels — from nearly 400 pounds per year to 86 pounds per year. In the interim, Lehigh has agreed to modify its operation to reduce mercury emissions by approximately 92 pounds per year and to evaluate further operational changes that could result in additional reductions. The agreement will also allow the plant to use treated dried sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, in its fuel mix. Sewage sludge is one of the byproducts from the treatment of sewage at wastewater treatment plants.
Mercury is a highly toxic metal that bioaccumulates in fish and poses a health risk from fish consumption. Coal-fired power plants and portland cement plants are among the largest sources of mercury emissions. The reductions from Lehigh, coupled with the mercury emission reductions the Healthy Air Act requires from the State’s coal-fired power plants commencing in January 2010, will reduce Maryland’s annual statewide emissions of mercury from nearly 2,500 pounds to approximately 600 pounds.
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