OLYMPIA, WA,
April 12, 2011
(Press Release) -
The Washington Department of Ecology is now taking public comments on a proposed order that would allow Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc. to make modifications that improve equipment performance and generate more electricity.
The company is seeking a "Notice of Construction" order that is required when a source of air pollution plans to make changes to its operations. If approved by Ecology, Order 8429 would, among other actions, allow the mill to:
Increase the efficiency of power boiler No. #20 to produce more steam from wood fuel and better control nitrogen oxides emissions. Forest biomass is one of the boiler's current wood fuel sources.
Modify recovery furnace No. #19, including a more efficient system to control particulate emissions.
Install new steam turbine capacity and cooling tower.
Close down power boilers No. #12 and No. #13, recovery furnace No. #18 and smelt dissolving tank No. #18.
The proposed order and other associated documents are on Ecology's website. Paper copies are available at the Longview Public Library and Ecology's offices in Lacey.
The public is also invited to an Ecology presentation about proposed Order 8429 at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at the Lower Columbia College, student center conference rooms A and B. A hearing to officially collect comments in person will immediately follow the informational meeting.
As a result of efficiency improvements included in the proposed modifications, the mill expects reduce its use of wood and fossil fuels while generating an additional 54 megawatts of electricity.
Other changes are outlined in Ecology's public comment and hearing notice for this project.
The proposed order sets the new emission limits and other new requirements the mill must meet as part of the project. Order conditions will be incorporated into the existing air operating permit when next modified.
All comments - whether offered verbally during the hearing or provided to Ecology in writing - are given equal consideration. Written comments need to be received by May 16, 2011. Send comments to:
Marc Heffner, Department of Ecology
Industrial Section
PO Box 47706 Olympia, WA 98504-7706
IScommentsLF@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6102 (fax)
Ecology will read the comments and determine if any changes to the proposed order are needed. A document responding to public comments will be published online when a decision about the order is made.
