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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Oct. 11, 1999
99- 205
Contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
YAKIMA - Further environmental review will occur before the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) decides whether to allow a test burn of tire-derived fuel at a Bingen sawmill.
Air program authorities have extended the public-comment period to Nov. 8 for a "determination of non-significance" (DNS) designation for the proposed burn. SDS Lumber Company is seeking a permit to test whether tire-derived fuel would increase the performance of its hog-fuel boilers.
"Extending this comment period will give Ecology additional time to consider the information received thus far, and it will give the public more time to frame and submit comments," said Sue Billings, with Ecology's air program in Yakima.
As of Oct. 8, Ecology had received about 50 public comments on the proposal.
SDS Lumber Company has requested temporary permission to add shredded tires to the hog-fuel boiler that generates steam power at its Bingen facility. The tire-derived fuel would be mixed with wood-waste and burned in the boilers. Company officials hope to analyze information gathered from the test burn to determine the economic and environmental feasibility of adding the fuel to its operation.
"At this point, Ecology is reviewing the potential environmental impacts from a trial burn only," Billings explained. "Should the company wish to apply for a longer-term project, that would most certainly call for additional environmental review, and a different type of permit altogether."
Billings noted that no decision would be made on the permit allowing for a test burn until a complete analysis is made of the new information the department has received.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
