Buzzi Unicem holding public hearing on hazardous waste permit changes

Proposed changes to Buzzi Unicem's hazardous waste permit will be discussed today at a public meeting.

The meeting, hosted by Buzzi, will include a presentation by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste and Land Reclamation program's staff. It will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Marquette Natatorium.

The cement manufacturer, formerly known as Lonestar Industries, burns hazardous waste as an alternative fuel source in addition to coal.

It uses fuel in two locations, a rotary kiln and a type of furnace known as a calciner. Coal is the main fuel used in the kiln system, supplemented with nonhazardous waste fuels such as tires or used oil in addition to solid and liquid hazardous waste fuels. Currently, the company is only allowed to use hazardous waste fuel in the rotary kiln.

In October, the company filed an application to amend its permit to be allowed to test the use of liquid hazardous waste fuel in its calciner. If successful, the company would like to use hazardous waste fuel in the calciner permanently and add more types of hazardous waste that may be used at the facility, according to paperwork filed with the Department of Natural Resources.

If this permit modification is approved, it will allow Buzzi to use more hazardous waste as fuel than it does currently, said Nathan Kraus, environmental engineer with DNR's hazardous waste program.

"A lot of the hazardous waste they are using, you cannot put into landfills," he said.

A call to Buzzi Unicem seeking more information on the company's plans was not returned Tuesday.

Written comments about the permit modification request can be submitted on the DNR website or sent by mail to Nathan Kraus, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.

Buzzi also has plans to add a railcar unloading facility with two new wash and storage tanks to allow for cleaning of the railcars.

The permit application is available for review online at http://dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/permits/mod981127319/information.htm.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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