Cement McInnis cannot respect the law

Cement McInnis is increasing emissions of dust and pollutants into the atmosphere, where the environment ministry is threatening to use an order to force the company to comply with the law.

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It has been revealed that Newspaper In 2020, the largest polluting cement plant in Quebec emits sticky dust. These episodes were repeated in the summer and fall of 2021.

The Port-Daniel company in the Gaspésie has been issued multiple notices of non-compliance and is even under criminal investigation.

Also, because of the investigation, the ministry has so far refused to release much information.

Now we know that the problem of dust and impurities is even more important.

Between August 12, 2020 and September 8, 2021, dust episodes at the plant site have resulted in at least 10 equipment outages.

As of May 31, 2022, the ministry has received 80 reports and 11 complaints, especially from residents living near the plant.

Not just dust

In a press release issued yesterday, the Ministry of Environment confirms that the problem is regular and ongoing, stressing that the investigation and other notices are not being complied with.

So the ministry now wants to compel the company to comply with the law through an order. However, it was obliged to send him a notice informing him of its intentions, which was done on June 30.

Cement McInnis has 15 days after which the department can decide whether to proceed with the order.

According to this notice, we learn that apart from dust, the cement plant has been releasing substandard particulates into the atmosphere and that it has not sent its sampling reports on time or indicated whether steps have been taken to rectify the situation. .

False green promises

If this law is implemented, it would require Cement to stop rejecting contaminants beyond McGinnis standards, contract with an independent expert to evaluate air treatment equipment, submit a dust control plan and atmospheric contaminants. Contaminant control work is compatible.

Remember that the $1.55 billion cement plant that has been operating since 2017 is now the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Quebec.

In 2014 it broke several green promises to reassure people about its environmental impact.

Since the Beaudoin-Bombardier family restarted the project in 2012, the cement plant has always been controversial. In addition to swallowed public funds, it managed to avoid an independent analysis by the Bureau of Public Investigations into the Environment (BAPE).

Last February, our Bureau of Investigation revealed that the company had not been sanctioned for its violations.

In addition to notices of noncompliance related to dust episodes, Cement McInnis has received $5,000 in fines and only ten noncompliance notices since 2014 for various environmental incidents.