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Department of Ecology News Release - September 15, 2008
08-250
SPOKANE – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Boise Building Solutions of Kettle Falls $15,126 for releasing too many pollutants into the air from the company’s plywood manufacturing facility in 2007.
Boise Plywood is required to test its air emissions and report the results to Ecology as a requirement of its air operating permit. The air pollution limits in the permit are set by the state to protect air quality.
A test performed in October 2007 showed that emissions from the plant contained higher-than-permitted levels of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Test results indicated that Boise was releasing to the air twice the amount of carbon monoxide and nearly one-third more volatile organic compound than is allowed by the environmental permit. Ecology subsequently issued a Notice of Violation. “These equipment tests are supposed to tell us whether pollution control equipment is properly working and protecting the air we breathe,” said Karen Wood, who supervises Ecology’s Air Quality Program in Spokane. “Everyone who operates a facility that sends harmful pollutants into the air has an obligation to make sure their anti-pollution devices are functioning as designed whenever the plant is operating.”
Boise Plywood may appeal the penalty to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
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Media Contacts:
Cathy Cochrane, communications, 509-329-3433; or by
cell at 509-290-0685 (ccoc461@ecy.wa.gov)
Jani Gilbert, communications, 509-329-3495; or by cell at 509-990-9177
(jagi461@ecy.wa.gov)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
