Is another environmental problem looming over Tyrone?

During Thursday’s Town Council meeting, James Norton, who works for Industrial Combustion Services, pleaded with the town’s leaders to do something about air pollution from an industrial facility.

“The concrete facility, known as Georgia Masonry, is contaminating our air that we have to breathe with their concrete dust. This is a health hazard according to the Fayette County Health Board,” Norton said.

Norton cited statistics from OSHA indicating that 42 people died during one year in concrete manufacturing and said one of his company’s employees has been ill with lung problems because of the dust pollution.

The EPD, along with Tyrone Councilman Gloria Furr, visited Industrial Combustion Services, and did indicate there was a large amount of concrete dust present.

Norton said another business located in the industrial park, Embry’s has also complained about the dust and also said dust coming from Walker’s concrete plant was also causing problems.

The town leaders wanted to know if EPD had made any recommendation about the situation. Norton said he had not heard back from the state agency. The Town Council asked Norton to keep them informed about the situation.

“We all want to have a job every day, one that we can go to without having to worry about other people contaminating our lives, our air and our hearing with pollution. We understand we work in an industrial park, but it doesn’t have to be a hazardous death park,’ Norton said.

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