Cement Plant Pollution Control May Fall Short of EPA Goal

The Environmental Protection Agency could fall well short of its goal to control air pollution from 85 percent of cement plants by the end of fiscal year 2016, according to preliminary data.

Although the EPA has opened investigations at 95 percent of the 108 cement facilities in the U.S., only 50 percent of the plants were deemed controlled according to data from 2015. Adding six facilities covered in two consent agreements in 2016, at least 56 percent would have been considered controlled as of the Sept. 30 deadline. The 2016 agreements with Cemex Inc. and Lone Star Industries Inc. ...