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Shock, concern and disbelief is growing after the Nova Scotia government announced Thursday that they had given environmental approval to Lafarge Canada to burn tires at their cement plant in Brookfield, N.S.

“My first reaction is one of great disappointment. We worked very hard 10 years ago to try and block this,” said Emily Kierstead, who lives near the cement plant.

#NS Government says #Lafarge can burn used tires for 1 year at their #Brookfield Cement Plant as part of a pilot project @globalhalifax pic.twitter.com/w5PoLTKnur — Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) July 6, 2017

READ MORE: Nova Scotia approves project burning up to 20 tonnes of tires a day

A decade ago, Kierstead and her husband Don Murray were part of a group called Citizens Against Tire Burning. They worked for two years to raise awareness about the issue when Lafarge applied — and was ultimately denied — a permit to burn tires in 2007.

The pair, now 76 and 83, are surprised the project has now been approved.

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“It’s kind of utter disappointment in the government. Ten years ago they said there would be no burning of tires in the foreseeable future. Obviously, their view of the future is pretty short ranged,” Murray said.

Kierstead says there are many health concerns associated with burning tires.

“It has been proven that cement plants around the world that do burn tires leave a terrible amount of pollution in the air for maybe 15 kilometers. It affects a larger area then we think,” she told Global News.

“The health ramifications can be dangerous for adults but more so, three times more so for children and really bad for infants.”

#NS government says there are conditions in place for #Lafarge to reduce environmental impacts and protect public health @globalhalifax pic.twitter.com/Dkpxvava69 — Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) July 6, 2017

READ MORE: Lafarge Concrete Plant in Abbotsford destroyed in early morning fire

Nova Scotia Environment Minister Iain Rankin said he looked at the science and evidence before approving Lafarge’s application.

Under the one year pilot project, Lafarge will be able to burn up to 20 tonnes of tires each day as a low-carbon fuel for one of its kilns.

“This is a practice that’s used in many jurisdictions so the intent behind this pilot project is to ensure that it works as it does all over the world. All over in 80 different locations, the United States and multiple provinces,” Rankin said.

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The province says there will be terms and conditions in place for the pilot project to reduce environmental impacts and protect public health.

In addition to limiting Lafarge to burning no more than 20 tonnes per day, or 15 per cent of the total daily input, a community liaison committee will be formed to keep residents informed of the project’s status and address their questions. There will also be a complaints resolution plan developed.

#Lafarge applied a decade ago to burn tires but they were denied by a previous government #NovaScotia @globalhalifax pic.twitter.com/qg8sOjZ5dd — Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) July 6, 2017

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The move to allow Lafarge to burn tires is baffling to both opposition politicians and environmental activists.

“I said at the time and I’ll say now, the Conservatives did the right thing in 2007 by banning it,” said N.S. NDP leader Gary Burrill. “This is dense, dumb and stupid to allow for this to go forward now.”

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“They keep talking about science but I don’t see good science here. This may reduce emissions here but it won’t reduce emissions in the province,” said Mark Butler, policy director with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.

“This is coming from a government that has approved Donkin coal mine, that has approved LNG (The Goldboro Liquefied Natural Gas project) and we’ve been told that GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions don’t factor into environmental assessments. No, they’re approving this project based on an incremental at best reduction in GHG emissions … I’m dumbfounded.”

The pilot project allows tires to be a maximum of 15 per cent of #Lafarge's total fuel (20 tonnes/day) @globalhalifax pic.twitter.com/qAQ4yoiPrw — Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) July 6, 2017

READ MORE: Extreme winds cause dirt from Lafarge plant to blow into neighbouring yards

For their part, Lafarge says they are “pleased” with the environment minister’s “science-based decision.”

“The cement we make at the Brookfield plant has built this province for the past 50 years. We want to ensure it will be around for 50 years to come. Project like this one are essential to achieving this goal,” said Karine Cousineau, manager of communications and public affairs for Lafarge Canada.

The next step is for Lafarge to get industrial approval.

In order to do that, the plant needs to submit a number of plans to the government. Some of which include how tires will be stored, waste management and an emergency response plan if there is a malfunction of the kiln.

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At this time, there’s no date for when the cement plant will begin burning tires.

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