by Ken Midkiff, Ozark Chapter Director
Background:
Holnam, Inc., is an international company with headquarters in Switzerland, and U.S. headquarters in Michigan.
The company owns, among other operations, several cement kilns/quarries in the U.S., including one in Clarksville, MO, just north of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The Clarksville facility has had numerous violations of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
Current Proposal:
To locate a large quarrying operation, cement kiln, rail facility and barge docking facility on 4000 acres in Ste. Genevieve County.
These lands are just south of Jefferson County, with Isle du Bois Creek as the county line boundary and the north boundary of the site. The terrain consists of heavily wooded uplands above the Mississippi River valley, floodplains and wetlands in the river bottoms, and dissected valleys leading into the river valley.
There is only one road to access this site. The remainder of the lands are in a recovering, heavily forested state. Although there has been logging in the past, the forest is in a mature state. While no endangered species have been noted in this area (primarily due to not looking), it lies within the range and suitable habitat for several such species.
Project Description (from permit applications):
· A single kiln Portland cement plant.
· Quarry Operations to mine the onsite limestone resources.
· Road to access Highway 61 and I-55.
· Rail spur to Burlington Northern Santa Fe RR.
· Slack water harbor and associated in-river fleeting for barge shipping on the Mississippi River.
· Overburden disposal areas; and
· Two crossings of Isle du Bois Creek.
“It is anticipated that the operation of the quarry, cement plant, and other associated infrastructure would occur for in excess of 100 years.” – Statement in Public Notice for “401-404” permit application. (Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, sometimes called the “dredge and fill” sections).
The Numbers:
4000 acres: Total size of Holnam’s holdings in Ste. Genevieve.
1798 acres: Total size of proposed limestone quarry.
“Largest cement kiln in the world” (according to Holnam) to be located in the floodplains and wetlands of the Mississippi River.
7200 tons: Amount of Nitrogen Oxides – ozone precursors – proposed to be released per year.
14,484 tons: Amount of Carbon Monoxide to be released per year.
3041 tons: Amount of Sulfur Oxides to be released per year.
42 acres: Total amount of wetlands to be destroyed (using Holnam’s calculations).
40 Acres: Total size of harbor/docking facility.
1700 Acres: Total size of NEW quarrying operation, including removal of “overburden” (trees, dirt, grasses, flora and fauna) to access the limestone.
Allied Opponents:
· Sierra Club (Ozark Chapter and Eastern Missouri Group)
· Missouri Coalition for the Environment
· Audubon Society
· Webster Groves Nature Study Society
· American Bottoms Conservancy
· Several other local, regional, and national environmental and conservation organizations.
State and Federal Agencies with “concerns”:
· Missouri Department of Natural Resources
· Missouri Department of Conservation
· US Environmental Protection Agency
· US Fish and Wildlife Service
Permits That Must be Obtained:
· Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
· Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act
· Title V of the Clean Air Act
· Land Reclamation permit for surface mining
· Wastewater discharge permit under Clean Water Acts of US and State of Missouri
Current status of permits:
A “nationwide” permit has been issued to conduct work associated with upgrading the access road and a land reclamation permit has been issued to re-open an old quarry (to obtain rock for the road). No other permits have been issued.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Quality, Air Pollution Control Program has informed Holnam that the amount of pollutants proposed to be release is unacceptable.
The Land Reclamation Commission has informed Holman that they will not consider “piecemeal” mining permits and the Commission has directed the staff to research Holnam’s operations in other states to determine compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
The Army Corps has taken no action (at least no PUBLIC action) on the 401-404 permits.
How to get involved:
Call the Ozark Chapter offices: 573-815-9250
Or write: Sierra Club, 1007 N. College Ave. Suite One, Columbia, MO 65201.