CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION Pulverized materials not allowed at Lafarge

The Ohio EPA expressed concerns about a health department exemption.
By MONICA BOND
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- The Trumbull County Board of Health recently revoked an exemption allowing Lafarge to accept processed construction and demolition material at its Lordstown facility.
Lafarge, an international building materials corporation with headquarters in Paris, formerly accepted pulverized construction materials.
Dr. James Enyeart, Trumbull County health commissioner, said accepting processed material seemed easier, but the exemption was revoked at the request of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
"It seemed to be more economical to transport, more easily packed into storage, easier to keep dry and produced less dust on site," he said. "As far as I can see, the Ohio EPA preferred bigger chunks so they can see what is stored."
Mike Settles, spokesman for the EPA in Columbus, and Katharina Snyder, an inspector for the northeast solid waste division, said there was some concern about what was stored in the facility, but that was not the main issue.
"We wanted to ensure what's supposed to go in does; is it construction and demolition, or is there solid waste? But the main issue was whether the health department had the authority to give Lafarge that exemption," Settles said.
New rules
Snyder explained, "It was a legal determination of the rules, of the health department's authority. Originally, the health department granted the exemption; over time as we learned the new rules, we discovered the exemption was not within their authority, so we asked them to please rescind the exemption."
Both Settles and Snyder stressed that the EPA is not at odds with the health department. "We have a very good working relationship with them," Settles said.
Enyeart said the exemption was not revoked because of a health issue.
"People can put improper things in [construction and demolition], but Lafarge dealt with reputable people. There didn't seem to be a health issue one way or another," he said.
Enyeart said Lafarge has experience with construction and demolition materials, the only materials it accepts.
"Lafarge is a huge corporation; they've dealt with building materials of all kinds. Mind you, they receive only construction and demolition material, not solid waste," he said.