Lafarge issued two-year approval to test burn whole tires as fuel

 

Mar. 20, 2006 – The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued an Order of Approval allowing Lafarge North America Inc. to test burn whole tires as a fuel in its cement kiln.

Lafarge currently uses chipped tires, natural gas, coal, petroleum coke, and waste oils to fuel its kiln. Lafarge requested approval to burn whole tires mid-kiln as another fuel option and to burn them at higher rates than the currently approved rate for chipped tires.

Tests at Lafarge have shown that burning chipped tires as a substitute for coal reduces most emissions. The agency expects similar results with whole-tire fuel substitution, but the order provides the opportunity to verify those assumptions over a two-year period before permanent approval may be sought.

The order requires a series of tests (including a baseline test without tires) to demonstrate emission performance of the whole-tire fuel options at various feed rates. This time period allows the agency and Lafarge to gather appropriate emissions information. Lafarge will be able to feed whole tires up to previously approved tire feed rates only after demonstrating that operation meets all current emission limits. Lafarge will be able to feed whole tires at rates higher than previously approved only during pre-arranged 15-day test periods.

A public comment period on the proposed order was open from December 19, 2005 through February 10, 2006. A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed order was also held on January 24, 2006. Comments were received and reviewed. Modifications were made to the final conditions in Order of Approval No. 9237 based on those comments.

The agency plans to hold a series of workshops in the community, at approximate six-month intervals, to present progress to date, summarize information received, discuss the implications of that information, and consider next steps. Additionally, the test results will be posted on the agency web site.

The public may view the documentation relating to Order of Approval No. 9237:

• Letter to Lafarge (PDF 0.1MB)
• Order of Approval No. 9237 (PDF 0.2MB)
• Summary of Comments and Responses for NOC 9237 (PDF 0.1MB)
• Detailed Comments and Responses for NOC 9237 (PDF 0. 8MB)
• Engineering worksheet for NOC 9237 (PDF 0.5MB)

If you are unable to download these document or prefer to view paper copies, please submit a public record request with Stella Nehen.

For questions regarding the permit approval or the responses to public comment, contact Steve Van Slyke.