For years, residents in the Highland Park and South Park neighborhoods have grown concerned about toxic smells they believed were coming from the LaFarge Cement Plant. But according to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Director Jim Nolan, new air control measures could significantly decrease the emissions coming from Lafarge by next spring.

One local resident, Rudolf Vincena, said he has noticed a “caustic” smell, comparable to chlorine, multiple times a year in his neighborhood. At times it has been enough to keep him inside.

“I have concerns about smelling something that I don’t know what it is,” said Vincena. “You don’t want to have anything (toxic)in the air your breathing, and maybe there are other chemicals we don’t smell.”

Nolan explained that the smell is nitrogen oxide, resulting from the high temperature combustion that occurs in their production process. Lafarge is currently one of Puget Sounds’ highest producers of nitrogen oxide—which can react with other compounds to form nitric acid and related particles, causing respiratory problems.

But new emission controls are expected to decrease these harmful chemicals in the air by as much as 90 percent. Updates in the plant’s technology, and compliance with federal visibility regulations should bring significant changes by this time next year.

Lafarge has already begun reducing its emissions during the past year by burning tires as a major source of fuel. While the practice has concerned some neighbors, Nolan said that tire’s actually make a much cleaner fuel than coal, with lower nitrogen oxide emissions.

“(Burning tires) resolves an environmental issue of illegal tire dumping and reduces emissions, it’s a net benefit to the environment,” Nolan said.

However, odors are not the only problem affecting neighbors of Lafarge. Cement dust from the plan has blown onto nearby neighborhoods. Unfortunately, that will not be solved by emission controls.

Nolan said the dust is the result of machine breakdowns and could only be prevented by better maintenance.

Currently, operations at Lafarge are on hold for 40 days for just that reason. Nolan said more information will be made available regarding emission controls at Lafarge once operations resume.