August 27, 2009 — Being environmentally friendly has become a matter of good business for one Rogers County, Tulsa-area cement plant.

Lafarge Cement burns alternative fuels to raise profits while lowering the plant’s carbon footprint, said Plant Manager Jim Bachmann. Now the company wants to expand its alternative fuel sources even further and is seeking a permit to burn Fuel Quality Waste.

Bachmann has been meeting with area business leaders to explain this latest in a series of moves by the facility to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by burning a variety of alternative fuel sources.

The need for more green, dollars and cents as well as environmental sense, has Lafarge, like many businesses seeking a better industrial ecology, to search out clean alternative fuel sources.

A “robust market” does not ensure a high profit margin for cement manufacturers in Oklahoma, according to Bachmann. Due to operating costs that are higher in North America than in many foreign locations, the Tulsa area plant must find ways to operate for less.

The Rogers County cement plant has two kilns that burn at 3400 degrees Fahrenheit, an efficient and ecologically friendly means of incinerating substances that might otherwise go into a landfill or pollute the environment.

Lafarge Tulsa already uses alternative fuels in the production process. Lafarge participates in the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s Waste Tire Program. While providing a service to the state by destroying old tires, Lafarge benefits from the reduction of reliance of fossil fuels such as coal.

Recently, Lafarge partnered with Waste Management to build a 1.5-mile pipeline to transport landfill gas to the cement plant. The methane created naturally in a landfill as waste decomposes impacts the environment. By harnessing that “waste from waste” to be used as fuel, Lafarge is reducing its carbon footprint while incinerating yet another potential pollutant.

Now Lafarge is going through the permitting process through the state of Oklahoma to burn yet another alternative fuel source, known as Fuel Quality Waste, a highly flammable material that would otherwise have to be disposed of in the environment.

“We’re just going through the permitting process on a new alternative fuel that will help sustain the Lafarge plant here in Tulsa,” said Bachmann.

Lafarge recently received the endorsement of the Rogers County Commissioners through a friendly lawsuit that allowed commissioners to set aside a county ordinance in this case without eliminating the protective ordinance all together.

“This is a great initiative. Instead of putting it into the air, this is a great idea to burn it,” said District 2 County Commissioner Mike Helm. The Lafarge Cement plant is located in Helm’s district.

Though Cara Cowan Watts with the Cherokee Nation and Bob Ronseveldt, President of the Carrie Dickerson Foundation, attended the county meeting to voice concerns on the matter, Cowan Watts told the Progress her primary concern was that the matter had not come before the Cherokee Nation.

Bachmann said he made a presentation at the Inter-Tribal Council’s Environmental Conference last June. He has spoken at Claremore and Catoosa Chambers of Commerce and Claremore Rotary Club on FQW as an alternative fuel source. He said the company will work with the Cherokee Nation to ensure all the Tribe’s concerns and questions are addressed.

The Inter-Tribal Environmental Council works to protect the health of Native Americans, their natural resources and their environment as it relates to air, land and water through providing technical support, training and environmental services in a variety of environmental disciplines.

There are 41 ITEC member Tribes in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. The Cherokee Nation hosts the annual conference.

Cowan Watts has studied environmental impact on cultural waters on tribal lands pursuant to acquiring her PhD and takes a special interest in protecting the environmental interests within her district.

Bachmann said using FQW is a positive move for the environment and for the company.

“These are things that you might have in your garage. The EPA does classify this as hazardous material, mainly because it’s flammable,” said Bachmann. “We work with area businesses such as American Airlines, Avon, and Walmart to recycle waste they incur in the course of their industrial processes.”

Burning FQW fuels is part of an emerging “industrial ecology” said Bachmann. The extremely hot flame of a cement kiln allows for a highly efficient process.

Lafarge owns 19 cement plants in North America. Currently, two Lafarge facilities operate using FQW. Those plants, one in Ohio and the other in Kansas, have been using FQW for over two decades and provide successful models for the Rogers County facility to follow.

A total of 14 cement plants in North America currently burn FQW.

“This material is very similar to fossil fuels like coal and in many cases is actually cleaner than coal. In some ways it’s a green fuel, it should reduce our carbon footprint,” said Bachmann. “These are all pre-selected wastes.”

As Lafarge continues through what Bachmann describes as an “intense permitting process” the company will continue to educate the public and answer questions concerning FQW.

Once approved, samples will be taken to ensure wastes burned are not radioactive. The Fredonia Blending Facility in Kansas, a facility which already works with the Lafarge plant in Fredonia, will prepare the FQW for burning. That facility has 30 years experience with this proven technology.

The two-year long permitting process has received no opposition so far, according to Bachmann.

“The Oklahoma DEQ has been very good to work with us,” said Bachmann.

The total impact of Lafarge’s output on the local economy is estimated at $106 million by the Tulsa Metro Chamber. This includes $8.5 million that feeds into the local economy through payroll for 120 employees as well as local, county and state taxes, and indirect services that supports jobs and local businesses.

“Our plant buys materials and sells product in Oklahoma,” said Bachmann.

Lafarge Cement has been used locally in projects including the BOK Center in Tulsa.