A few months ago, we told you about the Lafarge cement kiln in Ravena, NY giving itself an environmental award, despite being the largest mercury polluter in the state. Well, it looks like Lafarge may actually reduce mercury emissions according to new plans to update their plant. Construction, however, won’t even start until 2013.

Unfortunately, Lafarge doesn’t seem to be doing this to be a good neighbor; they claim the decision came from “a broad set of business considerations.” We definitely encourage cleaning up this plant, but the proof is in the pudding. As our attorney Keri Powell said, we’ll continue to “make sure the pollution controls they install will be sufficiently protective.”

Stay tuned for more updates on this kiln and our work to clean up mercury pollution across the nation.