Zaveh Cement Plant Environmental Impact Assessment Using Iranian Leopold Matrix

Cement production process produces million tons of by products such as dust, toxic gases and heavy metals associated with health (respiratory) risks and environmental pollution. The aim of the current paper is to assess the environmental impact of Zaveh Cement plant by using Iranian Leopold Matrix.
The current descriptive analytical study examined the current status of the region's environment; then reviewing the technical sources of the project was performed in order to identify the most important activities of operation and construction phases. Finally, Iranian matrix method was selected to assess the environmental impact of cement plant.
Based on the obtained results, the major negative environmental impacts on the physical part include soil pollution and erosion, air pollution, and noise pollution, respectively. The major negative biological impacts are the impacts on plant and animal species density, and the quality of the habitat, respectively. According to the results of the evaluation conducted using Iranian matrix method on Zaveh-Torbat cement plant, with the separation of construction and operation, there is no column with values less than -3.1, and the number of rows with values less than -3.1 constitutes less than 50 %.
According to the Iranian matrix, the project of Zaveh-Torbat cement plant is acceptable with the implementation of integrated environmental management strategies.