  |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Jan. 28, 1999
99-018
Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509)
575-2610
Chrissie Phelps, air-quality compliance inspector, (509) 454-7898
YAKIMA - A $6,000 penalty will close out a series of air pollution violations recorded during the last few years at the SDS Lumber Company in Bingen.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) issued the penalty after documenting emissions from the sawmill's hog-fuel boiler that were higher than acceptable opacity levels during two separate monitoring sessions last year. In addition, the facility had been cited for violating opacity levels from its veneer dryers in 1993. Opacity is a measure of how visible a plume of smoke is.
Since being notified of the air violations, the plywood manufacturer has added air pollution controls to its veneer dryers and hog-fuel boiler. Emission tests on the veneer dryers and the hog-fuel boiler indicate compliance with air quality requirements, said Chrissie Phelps, an air quality inspector with Ecology.
"At the time of these violations, no pollution controls were on the veneer dryers, and outdated controls were on the hog-fuel boiler," said Phelps. "Now, both stacks are equipped with modern devices that greatly reduce the amount of air pollution coming from the plant."
Also last year, Ecology worked with the company to complete a new air-operating permit, which was issued in October 1998. The federally required permit organizes all the lumber company's air quality obligations into one document, and is enforceable by Ecology, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and citizens.
"This is the final step in closing out this enforcement case," said Phelps. "While Ecology is pleased with the company's efforts to reduce its emissions, this penalty should act as a deterrent to future violations at this facility as well as the regulated community as a whole."
The lumber company may appeal the penalty to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
