The plan for two years from now is that alternative fuels, or low carbon fuels (LCF), will be introduced at Lafarge in Exshaw, meaning experts are working diligently and promptly to update the community on human health risk assessment (HHRA) studies and data.
At a meeting in Exshaw on June 28, Lafarge members and third-party experts discussed projected timelines and initial research on the local cement plant’s proposed use of LCF starting in 2019, which included air quality monitoring and HHRA.
Lafarge has been investigating replacing burning fossil fuels in favour of LCF for its cement-making process. The eight LCF being considered include shingles, tire fluff, carpet and textiles, non-recyclable plastics, rubber, wood products, treated wood products, and renovation/demolition waste.
Should everything go according to plan, Lafarge expects to submit a permit application by the end of this year to burn the fuels in Exshaw, which would replace up to 50 per cent of fossil fuel use in its first phase.
Currently, human health experts Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. are testing receptors, which could be an individual, community or location, among others, which would hypothetically show an estimation of potential environmental changes.
Receptors are located in Exshaw, Lac Des Arcs, Stoney Nakoda, and Canmore, where people are assumed to have lived all their lives, along with two recreational receptors on Heart and Cow mountains.
Millennium’s assessment, however, is currently ongoing and the company remains in the process of gathering essential data. Millennium hopes this summer they’ll have information to offer the public, said Deirdre Treissman, senior risk assessor at Millennium.
“The main takeaway is the risk results concluded from 2009 are the same as they are now … there are small changes, but nothing substantial,” said Treissman.
The cement plant borders Municipal District of Bighorn hamlet Exshaw and nearby hamlet Lac Des Arcs. The “most critical” component of the research on LCF has been based around HHRA, which is a well-documented process to clearly state potential human health risks from exposure to chemicals released.
The HHRA looks at five stages: problem formulation, exposure assessment, hazard assessment, risk characterization and then studies conclusions and recommendations.
In the HHRA, along with air quality monitoring, the tests are purposely designed to be on the “conservative side” of the spectrum.
LCF are currently used at Canadian cement plants in four provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
The Exshaw plant is one of the last remaining in Canada to start using LCF.
Among reasons for its proposal, Lafarge wants to address “global issues” such as climate change by switching to LCF, said plant manager Jim Bachmann.
LCF are also an attractive economic option for cement plants due to the high cost of fossil fuels.
“It does have some economic benefits, we won’t deny that; it’ll help sustain our business in that way,” said Bachmann. “Also, it helps us sustain the environment in likely reducing greenhouse gases.”
According to Lafarge, emissions from cement production worldwide contribute five per cent of CO2 emissions, and 1.4 per cent nationally.
In its research for local LCF use, Lafarge is assessing and documenting greenhouse gases and air pollutants that result from burning the fuels.
“We’re trying to be as transparent as we’ve ever been for this project,” noted Bachmann.
Lafarge also intends to put forward a permit application to pre-process LCF materials on site (shredding the materials), but that is not intended for phase one.
As an example mentioned at the meeting, Lafarge would take in these types of pre-processed fuels from the Francis Cooke Class III Landfill, about five kilometres east, shred material on-site, then use the byproduct for fuel.
The pre-processing permit would “keep all options open” for the cement plant and its future, said Bachmann.
A focal point of community concern after Lafarge proposed exploration of LCF use last February were air quality impacts, HHRA, and traffic from shipping through Exshaw and into the plant.
A project advisory committee with local community members was established and meets monthly to be kept up to date and give opinions on the proposed LCF process.
Among members is MD Reeve Dene Cooper, who first discussed LCF use in Exshaw in 1992.
“We’ve done this twice before; you find out a lot about the airstream in the Bow Valley,” said Cooper.
Cooper is “relieved” petroleum coke, a byproduct of the oil refining process, isn’t being considered for the Exshaw plant’s LCF use.
“I think the public would struggle with it … it’s a more complicated fuel that has less public acceptance,” said Cooper.
