By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SILVER GROVE - A Campbell County drywall maker could face a fine of $416,000 for violating state environmental laws.

A hearing officer overseeing a dispute between The Lafarge Gypsum Co., which operates a massive drywall manufacturing plant along the Ohio River, and nearby residents has recommended that the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet impose the civil penalty against the company.

In an order issued this week, the hearing officer said Lafarge has "repeatedly violated" state air quality laws and should "adopt and implement" state approved operating procedures "to provide adequate air pollution control measures along with proper monitoring and record keeping."

Erlanger lawyer Bill Robinson, who represents Lafarge, said Thursday he had not seen the order and could not comment.

Both the company and the residents who brought the complaint have 14 days to respond to the order, said cabinet spokesman Mark York.

After responses are considered, the cabinet will make a final ruling on the order. An appeal to the final order could be made to Franklin Circuit Court in Frankfort, York said.

The dispute grew out of claims by residents living near the 3-year-old plant that gypsum was blowing from the plant onto homes and private property.

Taylor Mill lawyer Brandon Voelker represented residents who sued the company in Campbell County Circuit Court in 2001 to force tighter internal controls at Lafarge. That suit was settled out of court, Voelker said Thursday.

"This could be one of the biggest civil penalties ever awarded by the cabinet," Voelker said.

The cabinet cited Lafarge in 2001 for violating state air pollution regulations in its handling of gypsum dust.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com