By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – There were mixed feelings Monday at a public hearing on whether a company should get a permit to build the nation's largest cement plant south of St. Louis.
Switzerland-based Holcim wants the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to issue an air permit to build a plant near Ste. Genevieve.
Opponents worry noxious emissions will create harmful ozone levels. But Ste. Genevieve County resident John Oram believes the plant will be safe, and will give the area an economic boost.
"Every day we read in the paper about jobs going overseas," Oram said. "This is a project that brings jobs here from overseas. That will reduce the imports, and it's a facility our country and Missouri can be proud to have."
The Missouri DNR could issue its final permit within 30 days.