PORT TOWNSEND — The state Department of Ecology today reissued the air operating permit for Port Townsend Paper Corp.’s pulp and paper mill after a three-year public comment and revision process that involved an appeal of the application.
“This is actually a continuation of that public process of giving the mill the permit that it started back in 2007,” said Ecology spokeswoman Kim Schmanke said.
She said she was uncertain if the mill would have to apply for permit renewal again in three years, because the permit was originally approved in 2007.
The mill’s air operating permit, which normally is renewed every five years with Ecology, goes into effect Saturday. The permit can be appealed within the the next 30 days from its issuance.
The permit was appealed in 2007 by Cindy Buxton, a former resident who left Port Townsend to live in Haines, Alaska, after she fell ill when mill fumes filled her home.
Buxton’s appeal was supported by PT Air Watchers, a group organized to clean up Port Townsend’s air quality.
Buxton, who still lives in Alaska, was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Gretchen Brewer, a PT Air Watchers representatives, said the group had to discuss the possibility of appealing Ecology’s decision granting the mill’s permit, but would support any other party’s appeal.
“It takes a lot of money and time to go through the appeal process,” Brewer said.
‘Weak interpretation’
“We think it’s an extremely weak interpretation of the laws and ignores a lot of operations and factors,” she said of Ecology’s decision, which was approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, adding that she was not yet prepared to offer specific concerns or issues with the mill’s permit approval.
“The thing with this new permit is the public offered comments and concrete suggestions for improving [air quality] and explicitly they have not taken into consideration public comment,” Brewer said of Ecology.
Chuck Madison, spokesman for Port Townsend Paper Corporation, said Tuesday that mill management had no comment about the renewed permit.
During a June 2009 public hearing on the application, Ecology officials said the top concerns coming from Port Townsend residents were nuisance odors from the mill and possible health effects from air emissions that are not reported.
Other concerns included increased accountability with the mill and Ecology when residents phone in odor complaints. They asked that Ecology act with enforcement.
Ecology response
Ecology officials said they responded to concerns by supporting the state Department of Health’s analysis of health risk data to assess possible effects and negotiated with the mill for a weather station, and to get hazardous air pollutant readings from five primary emissions units.
Ecology officials also said the mill agreed to get measurements of emissions from water treatment ponds and improved response to complaints.
Ecology also provided mill data to the Environmental Protection Agency for a new nationwide “residual risk assessment study.
Ecology officials said they met with individuals and concerned groups, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency to observe conditions at the mill when they are in the vicinity and established a toll-free number to call in “odor events” at or around the mill — 1-800-453-4951.
The agency is working with the mill on making changes in the conditions and operation of the mill’s wastewater treatment basin.
Air operating permits compile applicable state and federal orders, rules and laws and include requirements such as air emissions limits, monitoring and reporting requirements.
History of permit
Ecology renewed the permit in 2007 and Buxton and PT Air Watchers appealed the permit to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board, asking the EPA to review the permit.
Ecology revised the air operating permit based on EPA’s three areas of concerns and as directed by the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
In April 2009, Ecology released the draft air permit for public feedback.
After working through the public’s comments and questions, Ecology sent the proposed permit to the EPA.
EPA did not object to the permit.
Chemicals released from the air stacks at Port Townsend Paper mill and reported in the Environmental Protection Agency’s database are acetaldehyde, ammonia, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid or acid aerosols, lead compounds, manganese compounds, methanol, nephthalene, phenol and polycyclic aromatic compounds.
Methanol and ammonia are the two chemicals most released into the air, data shows.
Water discharges include ammonia, catechol, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, lead compounds, methanol and manganese compounds.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
