Contact: Susan Massengale, 919/733-7015 ext.227
Date: November 19, 2001 Distribution: Targeted
DWQ Issues Permit With Wastewater Color Reduction
For Blue Ridge Paper Mill In Canton
RALEIGH -Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc.'s plant in Haywood County must reduce the amount of color discharged by 18 to 33 percent over the next five years in accordance with a permit issued today by the state's Division of Water Quality.
"Substantial improvements have been seen in the facility's wastewater discharge over the past decade, and that has translated into a healthier Pigeon River," said Mike Myers, an engineer with DWQ's point-source permitting branch. "We anticipate that the conditions of this permit will result in further improvements through the next several years."
The mill has achieved about a 50 percent reduction in color - a by-product of the pulping process - since an agreement was reached in 1997. That agreement was between North Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, City of Newport, Tenn.; Cocke County, Tenn.; American Canoe Association, Tennessee Environmental Council and the company.
The reduction in permitted color loading has been from 98,168 in 1997 to 48,000 pounds per day during the last permitting cycle. The new permit requires that the color level be reduced to between 32,000 and 39,000 pounds per day on average. Further conditions of the permit include:
· Reduction in Biological Oxygen Demand and Total Suspended Solids loading to the Pigeon River
· Further reduction in dioxin limits. Improvements at the mill since the last permitting cycle resulted, last September, in the lifting of a fish consumption advisory that been in place since 1988.
· Moving the compliance monitoring location from approximately 20 miles to less than one-half mile downstream
· As part of the requirements of a temperature variance, the company will monitor to ensure a balance of indigenous aquatic species in the river.
The permit has received approval from both the EPA and the state of Tennessee. "Tennessee Governor Don Sunquist made a promise for a clean Pigeon River," said Justin P. Wilson, deputy to Governor Sundquist. "This permit addresses our concerns. We appreciate Governor Easley and Secretary Ross's commitment to improving water quality and their willingness to work with us and local citizens."
Built in 1908, the mill is currently permitted to discharge 29.9 million gallons of treated wastewater daily into the Pigeon River in the French Broad River Basin. Champion International Corp. of Stamford, Conn. owned and operated the plant until 1999, when employees purchased and renamed it.
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