Expect Better for Boulder County

Why It Matters

CEMEX Lyons is Boulder County's #1 polluter, responsible for 7% of local CO2 emissions.

CEMEX is a 55-year old, coal-fired cement plant that has been enjoying outdated air quality standards for decades in an area with ozone "Severe Non-attainment", and has still managed to earn ‘Not in Compliance’ status on each of its past 25 annual inspections. The plant also has grandfathered status within the Land Use Code of an evolving Boulder County, which prevents it from being subject to current land use requirements. 

In short, it is time to modernize what is expected of CEMEX. We deserve better.

What We Want

Compliance

CEMEX has violated the Boulder County Land Use Code on multiple fronts and needs its Nonconforming Use TERMINATED.

Update: CEMEX was issued a Notice of Termination on April 10, 2024. CEMEX responded on May 9th.

CEMEX is in regular violation of the Clean Air Act (25 consecutive years!), despite largely being held to standards from the 1960s. We want them held to a better standard, and we want them compliant.

Update: In May 2024, CEMEX was given a $1.39 Million fine stemming from violations in their 2022 annual inspection.

CEMEX’s $8.9 M reclamation bond, hasn’t been materially updated in 20 years. If CEMEX were to abandon the property (which happens frequently at old industrial properties), tax payers would have to pay for the extensive environmental clean up that is likely $30-40 Million. We want their bond current, which is required.

Update: This is still on-going, but we have successfully raised the required bond to ~$22 Million thus far.

Simply put, we want compliance or closure.

Recent Fugitive Dust Events

(These are a small fraction of what has been documented.)

  • July 14, 2024

  • July 11, 2024

  • July 9, 2024

  • July 7, 2024

  • July 1, 2024

  • June 29, 2024

  • June 23, 2024

  • June 16, 2024

  • June 15, 2024

  • June 12, 2024

  • June 12, 2024

  • June 12, 2024

  • June 12, 2024

  • June 12, 2024

  • June 7, 2024

  • June 6, 2024

Get Involved!

We're at pivotal points with multiple regulatory processes; your voice is key.

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Make a Donation

If you’re able, please donate to our friends at Save Our Saint Vrain Valley. They’re a 501c3 and 100% volunteer led. All funds go towards legal expenses to prevent the industrialization of the Saint Vrain Valley.

SOSVV has been EXTREMELY generous with legal support for our efforts. If you value our work and the progress we have made/are making, please say thank you with a donation to SOSVV.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

— Margaret Mead