Mercury Released By
By Sarah Dallof
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OREGON/IDAHO - |
The
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is keeping a close eye on the results
of tests from a cement plant that was found to be releasing two to three times
more mercury into the air than previously reported.
The
Ash Grove Cement Plant, located in
In
early August, the plant and the Oregon DEQ reported a discrepancy in the amount
of mercury emitted from the plant. Senior Environmental Engineer Patty Jacobs
caught the mistake.
"I could not match my results with their results," she tells CBS 2 News.
Ash
Grove says they mistakenly used an older, incorrect set of numbers to calculate
the emissions. Jacobs had the new, correct numbers.
"The new numbers are potentially alarming because they are
much higher than originally reported, but because a source test is a snapshot
in time. We need to do more investigation," she says.
There
are no state or federal regulations limiting mercury
emissions from cement plants.
The
DEQ has asked Ash Grove to conduct additional tests to learn more about the
type of mercury being released. There are multiple types of mercury. Some just
go into the atmosphere. Others work their way into waterways, and into the food
chain, putting human health at risk.
"We have no evidence indicating there is any hazard posed to
anyone in the community, near the community, or downwind," Tom Wood, an attorney
for Ash Grove, tells CBS 2 News.
The
plant has agreed to additional testing in December.Wood
says that's just one example of the company exceeding their environmental
responsibilities.
"They are a company that's very concerned about the
environment," he says.
The
plant donates tens of thousands of dollars to local charities, according to the
plant manager.Wood says the company has a lot
invested in the community and has no reason to put it at risk.
However,
several environmental groups, including the
"This is an extremely important environmental and public
health issue," Director
Harris
is concerned the type of mercury being released by Ash Grove is harmful. She's
pushing for the government to establish regulations on mercury emissions.
"I suspect people living near the plant have no idea the
plant is emitting huge amounts of mercury into the air," she says.
The
Idaho DEQ says they are closely monitoring the situation.They're
in the middle of conducting a study examining mercury in fish tissue to
determine how much is in the food chain.
"What