[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Lafarge's quarry mining map, from Logimine.com."][/caption]In its attempts to recover from a greater-than-anticipated amount of public opposition at a pair of recent public hearings and information sessions on its plans to expand its Ravena cement plant facility, Lafarge Cement has been quick to point out the good it's been doing of late. In today's Daily Mail, a new story has appeared all about how the beleaguered company, which was also listed near the top of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's list of New York state polluters in a recent report, has been reclaiming its old quarries for eventual use as a public park. "While most know Lafarge focuses on digging out limestone out of its vast quarries and turning it into cement, few know of the company's behind-the-scenes restoration of the land once it's been mined to capacity," reads the story. "One example of their good stewardship is the recent reclaiming of seven and a half acres of previously mined land in the quarry."

Environmental Manager John Reagan said the land, covered with topsoil and planted with various indigenous plants will eventually become part of a public park. The 400 foot deep quarry produces 8,000,000 tons of limestone a year. According to Lafarge, that's enough "to fill the Empire State Building three times."

After a preview story on possible outcry against Lafarge's permit processes with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and state Department of Health ran last month, representatives of the national company phoned WGXC to question our headlines and story slants. The company is currently in the midst of a SEQRA Environmental Impact review process. For the story in today's papers, read here.