A proposed cement plant the the town of Seligman, Arizona has raised air pollution concerns for the Grand Canyon. The cement conglomerate Cemex has proposed the plant be built 15 miles Seligman which puts the plant’s location within 50 miles of the South Rim of the Canyon.

View From Shoshone Point, Grand Canyon

Economically, the plant makes sense for the area. Seligman is an Historic Route 66 town that is known for it’s kitschy souvenir shops and 50’s style eateries. We pass through there on the way to the trailhead on our Havasupai Tours and our we love to stop at West Side Lilo’s or the Snow Cap after we have spent 3 or 4 days at Havasupai. The area is in need of a economic boost since there isn’t much in the way of employment opportunities in that part of the state.  The construction of the plant will bring 700 construction jobs and 110 permanent jobs to the area. For reference, the total population of Seligman is only 456 people. Arizona also has a need for concrete with expected demand of 6 million tons a year for the next dozen years.

Environmentally, the plant will very likely cause damage to the area including the Grand Canyon National Park. The park has already been experiencing problems with air quality due to the emissions from Phoenix and Las Vegas. The effect has been diminished visibility over the years with a haze forming over the canyon due to this pollution. Having a potential source of pollution so close to the canyon will only increase the problem.  Maybe I should give Cemex the benefit of the doubt that they will build a plant that will be zero emissions but that won’t be enough. There is the issue that the plant will create additional auto traffic in and out of the area and the harmful emissions those vehicles will create. The National Park service implemented a shuttle service last year that brings some of the canyon’s 4 million visitors in and out of the park in order to cut down on vehicle emissions in the park so air quality is obviously an issue.

I wish that Cemex would find another area of the state to build it’s plant.  I know that progress has to happen but we need to be extra careful when growth is planned around our national treasures.

Via: AZ Central