Port Townsend Paper Corporation

UPDATED (May 20, 2011)

On May 10, 2011, in a decision on summary judgement, the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) ruled in favor of the Dept of Ecology (Ecology) and Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC) on all but two issues in the challenge to Ecology's decision to issue Notice of Construction Order (NOC) No. 7850. The parties agreed to withdraw the two issues remaining, and on May 16, 2011, the PCHB dismissed the case. The appellants appealed the ruling to Thurston County superior court.

For more information on the NOC order, please read the:

Some comments received were outside the scope of the project.

For carbon accounting, this project is consistent with current state policies on renewable energy and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) calculations are not currently required as part of the permitting process. Section 6c of the environmental checklist discusses CO2 emissions and PTPC is in compliance with current rules and regulations. Current methods of accounting for CO2 indicate a reduction in GHG emissions due to the project. As CO2 and GHG reporting and accounting procedures come into effect and evolve, PTPC will be responsible for compliance with the rules and regulations applicable to the mill.
Forest biomass availability and supply are beyond the scope of this project and review. The Department of Natural Resources is conducting a forest biomass supply assessment. The University of Washington's Olympic Natural Resources program is also conducting research to quantify the amount of sustainable woody biomass in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties.
Forest environmental health is regulated by applicable portions of the WA Forest Practices Act and WA Forest Rules. Suppliers must comply with these laws.
Ocean Acidification focus sheet
Forest Biomass focus sheet
Biomass combustion table and comparison graph, comparing air and transportation emissions from different biomass combustion activities(including decomposition, slash pile, wildfire, fireplace and industrial)

Click here to read documents supporting the DNS and order:

Location & History

PTPC is located at 100 Mill Road in Port Townsend, Washington. Built by National Paper in 1927, it was purchased by:

Crown Zellerback in 1940
Haindl in 1983
Port Townsend Paper Acquisition Co. Inc. in 1997

The mill's wastewater treatment facility discharges treated process effluent into Port Townsend Bay.

This mill is working toward sustainability. Activities include:

Recycling old corrugated containers (OCC). About one-third of the fiber used in PTPC products comes from recycling OCC.
Awarded a Renewable State Energy Program grant to help provide green power for the mill and the Puget Sound Energy customer grid.
Though currently an inactive participant, measuring progress toward sustainability in the Industrial Footprint Project.

Capacity:

PTPC provides 315 jobs and produces about 950 tons of unbleached pulp and paper each day.