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U.S. EPA settles with Riverside Cement Company for $394,000 over air quality violations Company will also spend at least $385 million replacing old kilns

Release Date: 03/05/2008
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, cell (213) 798-1404 arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

(03/05/08) LOS ANGELES – Thousands of San Bernardino County, Calif., residents will enjoy cleaner air under the terms of a $394,000 settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Riverside Cement Company for allegedly violating Clean Air Act standards at its Oro Grande plant, located near Victorville.

Under the EPA settlement, the Riverside Cement Company will further improve local air quality by shutting down seven 50-year old short dry kilns by August 2008. In their place, Riverside Cement will begin operation of a single, state-of-the-art kiln, constructed at a cost of at least $385 million. This improvement will remove 1,500 tons annually of harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.

In the interim, RCC must comply with enhanced requirements for inspection and monitoring of baghouses.

"We welcome any effort that reduces nitrogen oxides and ozone as a step towards healthier air,” said Deborah Jordan, director of the EPA’s Air Division in its Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco. “Through enforcement, technological breakthroughs and corporate involvement, we will help communities get the clean air they deserve.”

According to the California Air Resources Board, the Oro Grande facility is one of the largest sources of damaging nitrogen oxides in California.
Nitrogen oxide helps create ozone, which causes health and environmental impacts. Breathing ozone can worsen respiratory illness, including emphysema and asthma. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.
The penalty resolves various Clean Air Act violations, including:
* exceeding the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants temperature limits for kilns in 2002-2004;
* exceeding nitrogen oxides limits for the kilns in 2003 – 2005;
* failing to perform opacity tests at baghouses in 2002;
* exceeding opacity limits for several emission units in 2005;
* failing to perform required inspections at certain baghouses during 2002-2004.

The Riverside Cement Company is a leading manufacturer of cement, concrete and aggregate material.

This settlement is subject to a 30 day public comment period and final court approval.

For more information please visit the on the EPA’s air toxic web site at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/index.html

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