Aggregate Industries to pay $1.45 million to settle asphalt emissions claim

Devon County Council recently granted Aggregate Industries permission to build a 27m high asphalt plant at Hillhead on an elevated position overlooking the Culm Valley. The decision went against the advice of the Council’s Landscape Officer who advised that the application was "contrary to relevant landscape policies [providing] grounds for refusal". 

Concerns about the impact of air quality and noxious odours on nearby residents and school children were dismissed, being left to the Environment Agency to deal with: 

Control over emissions and odours would be addressed through an Environmental Permit that would be required from the Environment Agency. 

Of course, that’s the same Environment Agency that regulates sites like this:

 

150-200 protestors unhappy about the smell coming from Walleys Quarry landfill walking into Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/bITLeOxiiD

— Sophie Calvert (@SOPH_C_) April 26, 2021

Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, Aggregate Industries has just agreed to pay $1.45 million to settle environmental violations in connection with this asphalt plant in Massachusetts.

According to the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey: 

"This company recklessly ignored the requirements of our environmental protection laws and the health and wellbeing of its neighbors when it continued to illegally manufacture asphalt and emit odors that deeply disrupted the surrounding community. My office will continue to work with our state partners to hold accountable those who endanger our communities and the environment for their own benefit."

According to the AG’s complaint, the odors were detectable up to at least three miles from the plant. The complaint also alleges that Aggregate told the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) that it had stopped producing the crumb rubber asphalt during MassDEP’s initial investigation, but actually continued producing the crumb rubber asphalt for months. 

Parent company LafargeHolcim has been settling environmental violations too:

 

For years, @LafargeHolcim violated the law and leaked toxic chemicals into tributaries of the Hudson River.

As a result of their illegal actions, we recovered $850,000 and we're forcing Holcim to take measures to prevent any future environmental harm.https://t.co/pE6xAdvwcn

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) April 30, 2021

Federal and state officials on Thursday said they reached a settlement regarding alleged water quality violations at the LaFarge Holcim cement plant in which leachate was reportedly flowing into the Hudson River. Holcim agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty and to comply with the rules set forth in its discharge permit going forward, said Antoinette Bacon, acting U.S Attorney for the Northern District of New York. 

Oh the difference – between the reality and the greenwash:

 

Around the globe, @LafargeHolcim is accused of polluting waterways and other forms of pollution. In the US alone, Lafarge has paid $279 million in penalties since 2000 (cc @GoodJobsFirst) https://t.co/odVMUN3Mjv

— CleanWaves (@CleanWaves3) May 3, 2021

Amazing greenwashing. This post is really cringe when you know how much Lafarge Holcim is polluting in countries in development such as Cameroun,India or Brasil. You don't give a fuxk about environment just about money.

— The crypto Nabab. LCX for Saudi Oil Money gains (@teegee40782885) April 30, 2021