Johanna Reese (919) 715-7357
December 30, 1999
Air Permit Issued for Homanit Fiberboard Plant
RALEIGH - The N.C. Division of Air Quality (DAQ) issued an air quality permit Wednesday for a proposed fiberboard plant in Montgomery County.
Homanit USA Inc. applied for the air quality permit in order to construct and operate a plant for manufacturing thin, high-density fiberboard, which is used to make furniture. The plant would be located on N.C. Highway 109 about 3 miles northeast of Mount Gilead.
The plant would produce fiberboard from waste wood chips it would obtain from Jordan Lumber Co., which is located next to the proposed Homanit site. According to documents submitted by the company, the Jordan lumber plant produces more than enough scrap wood chips to supply the fiberboard plant, so it is not expected to create a market for more logging or chip mills in the area.
As part of the permit review process, Homanit submitted and DAQ approved computer models showing that it can comply with state and federal rules for controlling particulates (dust), nitrogen oxides, toxic pollutants and carbon monoxide. The plant also would have equipment to control emissions of volatile organic compounds.
The DAQ held a public hearing on the proposed permit December 7 in Mount Gilead. The division also accepted written comments until December 21. The comments were reviewed and considered prior to the decision to issue the permit.
By law, the DAQ must review permits based on compliance with air quality regulations. The division has no authority over zoning, land use, or where a company decides to locate a facility. Local governments are responsible for regulating land use.
More information about air quality issues can be found at the DAQ's web site, http://daq.state.nc.us/.
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