K-C’s Everett, WA, pulp mill air-quality permit correction proposed by state agency

OLYMPIA, WA, Feb. 3, 2011 (Press Release) - A Department of Ecology (Ecology) order that governs air pollution controls at the Kimberly-Clark pulp mill in Everett would receive a correction under a proposed revision. Ecology seeks public comment on the amendment.

The correction affects the method for monitoring some emissions from a unit called the Number 10 Recovery Boiler. The correction makes the monitoring requirement consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) guidance for this type of boiler.

Ecology will accept public comment on the proposed rule change through March 7, 2011. Comments and questions may be submitted to Robert Carruthers, Department of Ecology, Box 47706, Olympia WA 98504-7706, robert.carruthers@ecy.wa.gov, or via fax at 360-407-6102.

Information about the rule-change proposal is available at:

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/pulp_kimberly.html

Everett Main Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Avenue, Everett

Department of Ecology, Industrial Section, 200 Desmond Way SE, Lacey, 360-407-6916

The mill uses a "wet scrubber" to remove very fine particles from the boiler's emissions. Scrubbed particles flow to the mill's wastewater treatment plant. Some of the water comes out of a stack as steam.

The moisture interferes with electronic emissions monitoring equipment now in use. The mill would instead use a visual inspection method approved for wet-scrubbed emissions in EPA's clean-air rules.

An Ecology fact sheet with additional details appears on line.