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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 13, 1999
99-263
Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
YAKIMA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has withdrawn a "determination of non-significance" (DNS) designation for a proposed trial-burn of chipped tires at a Bingen sawmill, citing concerns about the type of permit that was applied for.
SDS Lumber Company is seeking permission to test whether adding tire-derived fuel to wood-waste burned in the plant’s hog-fuel boiler will improve the plant’s efficiency.
Ecology issued a DNS for the trial burn in September, and later extended a comment period to accommodate citizen concerns regarding public notice.
"Today’s decision does turn back the clock a bit on processing SDS’s proposal," said Sue Billings, an air quality manager for Ecology, "but it in no way signals Ecology’s intention to approve or deny the project."
SDS Lumber wants to determine the long-term feasibility of using tire-derived fuel at the mill and believes that certain pollutant emissions will be reduced. Gorge residents and environmentalists have raised concerns about dioxin emissions and visibility impairment in the national scenic area.
Approximately 100 comments were received from Washington and Oregon residents of the Columbia River Gorge.
Among the comments, some questioned whether the type of permit being requested was the appropriate way to process a trial-burn proposal, Billings noted. Upon review and consultation, Ecology has determined that it was not.
"The citizens of the Columbia River Gorge are very active and well-educated on environmental matters," said Billings, "We appreciate all the thoughtful comments and ideas we have received so far. If SDS chooses to resubmit its proposal, we anticipate more lively debate on the pros and cons."
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
