WASTE BURNING AT LONE STAR TOPIC OF THURSDAY MEETING

Lone Star Industries, which burns shredded rubber and toxic-waste fuels in its kiln under interim status, hopes within the next year to acquire a permit to do so permanently from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Our emissions have been tested and are well within all regulations," said Norris Johnson, manager of the Cape Girardeau cement manufacturing plant. "We don't burn PCBs, dioxins or banned pesticides or herbicides."

Lone Star and the burning of hazardous wastes will be the topic of a meeting at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center, 701 Good Hope, Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Missouri Department of Health and Lone Star will be on hand to discuss issues pertaining to Lone Star's permit application to continue burning hazardous wastes.

Members of the local Sierra Club have been invited to the meeting.

"The meeting is open to the public," said David Allison of the Missouri DNA. "This meeting will provide citizens an opportunity to speak one-on-one with various people involved."

Allison said the meeting is not required. "Lone Star has applied for its hazardous-waste burning permit, and we opted to give people a chance to know what is going on before any formal decision is made. We would like to see a big turnout at the meeting."

A regulatory public hearing will be required later in the process, said Allison.

Obtaining a hazardous-waste burning permit is a lengthy process. Once it is determined that Lone Star can comply with all the emissions standards, a formal comment period will be held.

"During this period, the public can make comments to the DNR and EPA," said Allison. "And before a permit is awarded, an open public hearing meeting will be conducted."

If everything is in order, and Lone star complies with emission standards, a license could be issued as early as the third quarter of 1977.

Lone Star had qualified to burn hazardous wastes in its kiln before the EPA established new regulations. The plant was granted interim status pending approval of the permit.

About 30 percent of the waste fuel comes from waste oils like that used in automobile crankcases; 20 percent is materials such as paint thinner, urethane wood finish and paints; and 10 to 20 percent is water waste from industry.

"The balance of materials are alcohols," said Johnson. "This includes radiator solutions, methanol, resin substances like glue and auto-body filler and acrylic nail polishes.

"We don't burn many of the materials most people think of as hazardous wastes such as PCBs and dioxins," said Johnson.

Lone Star's kiln passed testing for a 10-year permit before the new regulations. The emission limits changed, but Johnson believes the company is still within the new limits.

The plant is licensed to burn 2.4 tons of shredded rubber and more than 2,200 gallons of waste fuel each hour, said Johnson.