Thanks to Rebekah Schilperoort and the West Seattle Herald for covering news about Lafarge Cement and the "South End Odor" ('Mystery Odor' not health hazard, just a nuisance (Oct. 19).
My first response to the article is how can the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency say what we are breathing isn't a health hazard when the only pollutants measured with the air monitors were NOx (nitrogen oxide) and SO2 (sulfur dioxide)?
I'd also like to clarify a part of the article in which I said I think the cause of the odor is "more complicated." Residents of Dundee, Mich., have also been affected by a bleach-like odor. Investigators there found oils in the limestone used at Holcim Cement as the source of the odor. Holcim has been working to fix the problem by installing scrubbers.
Residents here have been told by the Clean Air Agency that NOx and SO2 is causing the odor. From the article we are left to assume the solutions are Lafarge installing a new kiln stabilizing computer system called LUCY, firing their kiln less because of their new cement product, and burning tires for fuel.
I hope the "LUCY" computer system will stop the odor, especially since it was a major part of Lafarge's settlement from the only odor violation they have received from the Clean Air Agency in five years and over 600 odor complaints.
The article mentions Lafarge's NewCem product which is made by adding industrial waste from steel manufacturing called slag to the Portland cement they make in their kiln. The Clean Air Agency says Lafarge would fire their kiln less as a result of this new product. I don't believe this. Why would Lafarge fire their kiln less when they can make even more cement product?
The most distressing "solution" is Lafarge's proposal to burn tires for fuel. I can't believe this is a better fuel for the community than coal. There are safer pollution control technologies approved by the EPA such as low-NOx burners.
This is about money, and Lafarge will make money by burning tires. The tire burning proposal is being reviewed by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and will be opened for public comment any day.
Beth Lynch
Clear the Air Seattle
White Center
