THOMASTON (AP) – Dragon Products Co. plans to cap its 17-acre dust pile that has been the focus of lawsuits that have been filed by neighbors against the cement manufacturer.

The company has been working with the state Department of Environmental Protection on ways to contain the 845,000-ton mound of dust, said Terry Veysey, Dragon’s chief executive officer.

A formal plan was filed a few weeks ago with the department, but still has to go through a review process for approval, he said.

In March, people who live near the 123-acre Dragon Products plant on the Rockland-Thomaston town line sued the company in federal court, alleging that dust from the operation was harming their health. Last November, another family sued Dragon in Knox County Superior Court in Rockland.

Carla Hopkins, an environmental specialist with DEP, said Dragon wants to cover 13 acres with clay material, soil and vegetation, and leave four acres open for reclamation purposes.

The company has been burning some of the material in its new dry process for making cement, Veysey has said. As more cement-kiln dust is needed for burning, the mound would be uncovered.

The clay cover would prevent dust migration, Hopkins said, and may stop water penetration, which results in ground leaching.

Dragon wants to begin covering the dust pile in May or June and complete the project this year, she said. The DEP is seeking additional information, including data on storm water management and erosion control, before the plan can be approved, she said.

Dragon is also testing incorporating a byproduct known as clinker into its new cement-making process, Hopkins said. The 12-acre clinker pile has 317,000 tons of waste material.

“It’s a priority for us and I know it’s a priority for them,” she said.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-04-17-05 1315EDT