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Department of Ecology News Release - April 28, 2009
09-094
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is announcing a public comment period and formal hearing on a draft amended air operating permit for the Port Townsend Paper Corporation mill.
The proposed changes result from a Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) order to address comments by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Ecology is also seeking public input on the proposed changes to an administrative order issued to the mill in 2006. The order complements the air operating permit and needs to be modified to reflect the proposed permit amendments.
The public is invited to review and provide written feedback to Ecology from April 29 through June 15, 2009. Citizens also have the option of attending a public meeting and giving testimony on June 2 at the Fort Worden USO Hall in Port Townsend. The meeting will start with a presentation at 7 p.m., followed by a question and answer session. The formal hearing will begin afterward.
An air operating permit compiles relevant state and federal laws and requirements that govern air emissions from facilities like Port Townsend Paper. Ecology reissued Port Townsend Paper’s air permit in January 2007. The permit was appealed.
After considering the appeal, the PCHB ordered Ecology to revise the permit based on comments Ecology had received from the EPA and reissue the permit after public review. Among Ecology’s proposed changes:
The revised air permit doesn’t change emissions standards or monitoring requirements. The order being modified places limits and requirements on some of the mill’s air emissions. The key modification Ecology proposes is related to a change proposed for the air permit.
Copies of the proposed permit and modified order can be accessed at the Port Townsend Public Library, 1220 Lawrence Street. The documents are also available at Ecology’s headquarters office in Lacey or by visiting Ecology’s Web site about the Port Townsend Mill: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/pulp_porttown.html. The Web site also includes supplemental documents related to the mill.
All written comments on the permit and order must be received by 5 p.m. on June 15. They can be e-mailed to mhef461@ecy.wa.gov or sent by U.S. mail to:
Marc Heffner, P.E.
Department of Ecology, Industrial Section
P.O. Box 47706
Olympia, WA 98504-7706
Fax: 360-407-6102
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Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
