PORT TOWNSEND – A coalition of environmental groups has filed an appeal challenging a state permit that will allow the Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill to expand its biomass capacity.
The five groups are among the seven that also oppose the Nippon Paper Industries USA Inc.’s biomass project in Port Angeles.
The appeal filed Monday with the state Pollution Control Hearings Board is in response to the state Department of Ecology’s granting Oct. 25 of a “notice of construction” permit for the Port Townsend mill’s $55 million project and its July finding that the biomass project had no probable adverse environmental impact.
“We feel that Ecology’s omission of a full environmental review was a negligent act,” said Gretchen Brewer, a member of PT AirWatchers, one of the plaintiffs.
“Many of the people who responded during the comment period asked for that review, and Ecology ignored those wishes,” the Port Townsend resident said.
Along with PT AirWatchers, the appeal was filed by No Biomass Burn of Seattle, World Temperate Rainforest Network, Olympic Environmental Council and Olympic Forest Coalition.
Ecology’s October order allows the mill to move ahead with plans to install a steam turbine and upgrade its power boiler, after which time the boiler’s primary fuel source will be wood waste known as biomass or hog fuel.
As much as 24 megawatts of electricity would be produced for sale.
“The Port Townsend Paper Biomass Cogeneration Project will provide 200,000 kilowatt hours per year of green alternative energy to the power grid,” the paper mill said in a statement available on its website at www.ptpc.com.
“This is enough to support 15,500 homes annually,” the mill said.
Ecology’s order also sets stricter pollution limits for the upgraded boiler than the mill’s current limit, the state department said.
Eveleen Muehlethaler, the company’s vice president for environmental affairs, told Jefferson County officials in a letter in October that the project will include an extensive upgrade to air pollution control equipment, produce renewable electricity, reduce fossil fuel burning by 1.8 million gallons per year and create 30 full-time jobs and the equivalent of an additional 35 jobs during construction.
Representatives of the mill — the largest private employer in Port Townsend, which employs some 285 people, the mill said on its website — do not provide comments to the press as standard policy.
The environmental groups said that the project will significantly increase such pollutants as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and mercury, which will cause harm to human health and the environment.
The appeal also said that the Ecology permitting process failed to consider the impact on regional forests of removing large amounts of forest wood to feed the cogeneration boiler.
“The mill is in a floodplain, a tsunami zone and an earthquake zone that is next to several neighborhoods,” Brewer said.
“For Ecology to say this is ‘environmentally insignificant’ is unconscionable.”
In an e-mail, Ecology spokesperson Kim Schmanke wrote:
“Ecology received word [Tuesday] that an appeal of our permitting decision for the Port Townsend Paper Corp.’s boiler and fuel system upgrades has been filed.
“We understand that with most permit decisions we make there is an opportunity for an appeal.
“In this case, our first step is to work closely with our legal counsel and evaluate specific points alleged in the appeal.”
County Community Development Director Al Scalf said the mill will need to meet building and water quality codes for the project, which is slated to start next year, though it is not now known if appeals will slow the process.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
