CEMEX USA and clean-water advocacy groups Los Angeles Waterkeeper, Orange County Coastkeeper and its chapter Inland Empire Waterkeeper have agreed on a plan to enhance stormwater management from three of CEMEX’s ready-mix plants in Southern California to resolve an ongoing dispute regarding the Clean Water Act.
Under the agreement, CEMEX will upgrade Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater at plants in Irvine (Orange County), Fontana (San Bernardino County) and Compton (Los Angeles County). CEMEX also agreed to enhance water-testing protocols beyond current testing requirements.
“CEMEX strives to be a good neighbor in the communities in which we live and operate, and this agreement continues that commitment in Southern California,” said Eric Wittmann, CEMEX USA Regional President – West Region.
Orange County Coastkeeper and Los Angeles Waterkeeper filed a complaint in early 2017 claiming stormwater from three CEMEX facilities raised pH and metal levels in nearby waterways, violating the Clean Water Act. CEMEX refuted the claims. The recently approved agreement reflects a compromise with the organizations with increased BMPs at each facility.
“We’re proud of CEMEX for its commitment to improving the waters that our families and wildlife depend on,” said Colin Kelly, senior staff attorney at Coastkeeper. “By capturing and reusing its stormwater, CEMEX will protect our swimmable waters while lowering its water use in the process.”
CEMEX will contribute $55,000 to identify and fund future environmental-mitigation projects through third-party groups Rivers and Lands Conservancy (Inland Empire), Pacific Marine Mammal Center(Orange County) and From Lot to Spot (Los Angeles County).
“We ensure that all our greenspace projects are multi-benefit projects that not only impact the community but also have social, health & wellness and environmental impacts,” said Viviana Franco, Founder and Executive Director of From Lot to Spot.
Following Coastkeeper’s legal work, CEMEX is one of four large ready-mix concrete companies that have updated their practices and infrastructure in the last two years to comply with clean water regulations.
CEMEX is expected to complete its facility upgrades by October 15, 2018.
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CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Its U.S. network includes 11 cement plants, more than 50 strategically located distribution terminals, 50 aggregate quarries and nearly 270 ready-mix concrete plants.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER
Founded in 1999, the mission of Coastkeeper is to protect and promote sustainable water resources that are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. Coastkeeper is a nonprofit clean water organization that serves as a proactive steward of our fresh- and saltwater ecosystems. We work collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. We implement innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965. Inland Empire Waterkeeper is a chapter of Orange County Coastkeeper. For more information, please visit http://www.iewaterkeeper.org/.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES WATERKEEPER
Los Angeles Waterkeeper safeguards LA’s inland and coastal waters by enforcing laws and empowering communities. One of nearly 300 members of the international Waterkeeper Alliance and a founding member of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, for nearly a quarter-century LA Waterkeeper has been working to ensure that every Angeleno has access to swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters. For more information, visit www.lawaterkeeper.org.
