RALEIGH -- The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has scheduled two public meetings in February on the water quality effects associated with chip mill operations.
"There has been considerable public interest in the chip mill issue, and we want to give people the opportunity to voice their opinions," said Henry Lancaster, deputy secretary for DENR.
Comments received on water quality concerns will be integrated into the department's larger effort to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of chip mills in North Carolina.
Following are the meeting dates and locations:
Dr. Norm Christensen, dean of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, will moderate the meetings. Officials from DENR's divisions of Air Quality, Forestry, Land Resources and Water Quality are expected to attend as well.
The general stormwater permits that the Division of Water Quality issues for the wood products industry expired last August, and the division is now requiring new or proposed wood chip mills to apply for individual, site-specific stormwater permits.
The public can submit comments, statements, data and other information in written form prior to or during the meetings, or they can present them orally at the meetings.
Following the meetings, written comments can still be submitted until March 14. Questions about the meetings and written comments should be directed to Bill Flournoy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, NC 27626; telephone, (919) 715-4191.
Return to Press Release Page.