Montana Agency Okays Holcim Permit

Officials from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued a 'draft' permit to Holcim US Inc., to burn scrap tires as fuel in its cement kiln at the company's plant near Three Forks, Montana.

The draft permit allows Holcim to use scrap tires as up to 15 percent of the fuel for the cement kiln. According to Holcim officials, that translates to about 800,000 tires per year.

The company first applied for the permit 18 months ago, but nearly a year of wrangling with environmental and public health groups, as well as several requests by DEQ to revise or re-write the application stalled the process. 

"Our application received a very rigorous review by MDEQ to ensure that there would be little or no adverse impact to the environment," said Ralp Denoski, Holcim’s plant manager. "We are pleased that the permit is now moving forward to the public review period and we hope to receive a final permit in the next few months."

If approved in final form, Holcim will replace quantities of coal and natural gas with scrap tires. The tires will come from various sources, and a substantial number will be from Montana, the company has said.