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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/05/1986MINUTES CITY OF FORT COLLINS NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD FEBRUARY 5, 1986 7:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Suzanne Bassinger Tim Johnson Dave Dubois Denise LaRue Scott Duncan Tod Schwartz Gil Fechner Bob Sanz Bill Fischer Pat Sousa Board Members Absent: (excused) Ari Michelsen Staff Present: Roger Krempel Edith Felchle Don Yon Land Development Guidance System -- Ken Waido The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and was immediately turned over to Ken Waido of the Planning Department who presented the Land Development Guidance System (LDGS), handing out copies of same. Waido explained that the System is a PUD ordinance and is a method to integrate goals and objectives into Fort Collins' development policy. He explained that the Policies Plan provides direction for growth management, environmental protection, and location of specific uses. He stated that the plan is designed to increase density, thereby improving efficient use of utilities, roads, and other City services. He discussed the "Density For Dollars" aspect of the plan, explaining various trade—offs and their manner of determination. He outlined the absolute criteria as (1) neighborhood compatibility, (2) public requirements, (3) resource and environmental standards, and (4) site design. Krempel highlighted the portion of the LDGS which deals most directly with environmental matters. Air Quality Situation at Ideal Cement Plant -- nuara memoer e'iscner requested a report on the air quality situation at Ideal Cement. Krempel introduced Dr. Larry Johnston and Jerry Blehm of the Larimer County Health Department. Blehm presented a brief history of Ideal Cement, citing on —going interaction between the Health Department and the cement plant. He stated that in 1976 the plant operators proposed a new process. In 1981 they built a new plant which ran well for six months. There have been several periods of time during which the plant was shut down for several months at a time. During 1984-1985 the plant was opened and run the way it had been designed to run. During that time there were complaints from the community relative to air quality. Considerable time was spent trying to resolve the problems. Ideal committed to redesign and rebuild as necessary to correct the air quality problems. They started up again a short time ago under a portion of their new plan. On specific days they have experienced "upset conditions," resulting in excessive air emissions; each time emissions have been brought back into compliance within a few hours. It was stated that the "upset conditions" also result in production of poor quality cement, so there is a definite financial incentive to correct the problems as quickly as possible. Blehm stated that Ideal's plans for the immediate future are acceptable to the County. He then introduced Robert R. McGilvray, Plant Manager of Ideal, who showed a video depicting the plant's operation. He explained that the A -band material, which has been used previously, is in increasingly short supply, and much more expensive to extricate; thus they are now attempting to use E-band material. Blehm made the statement that we are all polluters and that every industry has a permit to pollute, stating that, "nothing is clean" and that federal and state goals are to "minimize pollution, not to eliminate it." Relative to the Ideal plant, Blehm stated that particulate matter is not a problem with the new bag house. It was stated that the dust noticed in the area is from waste piles. This dust has been analyzed to make sure that fugitive dust does not include heavy metal. When asked about variances which Ideal may have been granted, Blehm stated that the plant had had one variance in 77 years. When asked about rumors of nighttime violations, Blehm stated that he has checked plant emissions many times at night and has not found any violations. There was a brief discussion relative to noise level at the plant. It. was acknowledged that the plant is noisy. Blehm stated that noise levels seem greater in the Fort Collins area because background noise is quite minimal. Relative to odor complaints, it was stated that they are basically looking at Kerogen as the cause. The problem is a result of incomplete combustion, a result of a design flaw, and steps are being taken to correct the flaw. When asked about headaches which some people have complained of, it was stated that. a Larimer County chemist has said that headaches should not be a result of the Ideal emissions. McGilvray stated that he is familiar with permits held by many cement plants, including one in Riverside, California, and that the permit held by Ideal here in Fort Collins is much more strict than any of the others. It was stated that there have been two times during 1986 when emission levels have been out of compliance due to mechanical breakdowns. It was stated that any operator will have times of "upset conditions" during which emissions may be out of compliance. Ideal is allowed to put out 10% opacity and still be within legal limits. Sulfur, opacity, and NOX emissions are among those monitored at the plant. Blehm stated that the Health Department visually monitors the Ideal stack 150 times per year. The Board expressed an interest in touring the Ideal plant. This tour will probably be scheduled during the spring of 1986. Other Matters Minutes of the January meeting were approved as submitted. Krempel reported that interviews have been scheduled for seven candidates for the Air Quality and Hazardous Materials Coordinator position. The candidates will be interviewed by a staff panel and a citizen panel (including Tim Johnson of NRAB) on Friday, February 14. Krempel will personally interview the candidates after that date. Krempel mentioned that City Council had an issue paper prepared on the matter of Phantom Canyon. A copy of this paper will be sent to NRAB members. If possible, a presentation relative to Phantom Canyon will be made at the March meeting. The chair mentioned the up -coming concern of Council relative to transportation of hazardous materials. It was explained that this is currently a Police and Fire Department matter, but that the Natural Resources Department stays abreast of the situation. It was reported that Andrea Lapointe has been appointed to the County Land Use Plan Citizens Review Committee. Anyone interested in matters pertaining to this committee may contact her. The 2/6/86 public meeting of the Economic Development Task Force was announced and briefly discussed. LaRue mentioned a recent news announcement relative to pollution reported at national park sites. She stated that she will provide copies of the news release for the Board. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.