This article was in 2007, yet the Port Townsend Paper Mill CERTIFIED they did not know of hazards to health, on their bankruptcy filings.

"PORT TOWNSEND - Changes to Port Townsend Paper Corp.'s mill air quality permit won't be made until after the state Pollution Control Hearings Board hears an appeal in February.

And it's uncertain if a public hearing will be held before changes are made.

Based on feedback from a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency technical review, the state Department of Ecology will amend the air operating permit it issued to the Port Townsend Paper mill in January of this year.

The three changes, however, won't be made until the hearing on an appeal of the mill's air emissions permit filed by former Port Townsend resident Cindy Buxton.

"It makes total sense to do that," Nancy Helm, EPA federal and delegated air programs manager in Seattle, said Thursday.

"There might be some outcome of the appeal that may address some of the permit."

Ecology spokeswoman Kim Schmanke said the changes possibly could be made without a public hearing.

"The expectation is that what we would do with EPA's portion would be to roll that into the permit without reopening the permit.

"But that's still up in the air."

Schmanke added: "We are absolutely committed to making this work."

Chuck Madison, vice president of human resources at the Port Townsend Paper mill, said, "Safety and environmental protection are core values of ours and top priorities of Port Townsend Paper Corporation."

He said the mill, which employs 310 and is the county's largest private employer, is working with Ecology and the EPA.

"Port Townsend Paper strives to meet or exceed environmental and safety standards, and we're proud of our employees and our contribution to our community," he said.

Helm, who has oversight of Ecology's air-emissions permit issued this year to Port Townsend Paper, has asked that the kraft paper mill's five-year air-emissions permit be reopened, citing process deficiencies.

Amendments
Based on the Helm's comments for EPA, the permit will be amended as follows:

The EPA disagreed with Ecology's interpretation of when federal Compliance Assurance Monitoring requirements apply to five emission units. Ecology accepts the EPA's interpretation. The Port Townsend Paper permit will be changed to address EPA concerns.

Port Townsend Paper will be required to sample and test the recycled fuel it purchases from Conoco Phillips prior to burning it. Right now, the mill relies upon Conoco Phillips' own tests that the fuel meets a certain standard.

Wording will be changed to affirm Port Townsend Paper's compliance with federal Maximum Achievable Control Technology - or MACT - standards for treating hazardous air pollutants from the digesters and evaporators.

"It makes sense for us to wait to amend the permit until the hearings board has heard the appeal and we have a decision that we can respond to in the amendment process. Otherwise, we might have to amend the permit twice," said Carol Kraege, manager for Ecology's Industrial Section, which oversees pulp and paper mill regulations.

Buxton's complaint about the permit prompted the EPA's review several months after the regular public and government review process closed.

Generally, federal agencies that delegate permit authority to the state negotiate changes during a draft permit's public review period.

Buxton is living in Haines, Alaska, after receiving a doctor's orders to never return to Port Townsend.

She said she developed severe respiratory and headache problems after smelling the odor from the mill in her home near Blue Heron Middle School and Port Townsend Municipal Golf Course, which was four miles from the mill.

PT AirWatchers, a Port Townsend air quality advocacy group that has been examining Ecology's oversight of the mill, is raising funds to support Buxton's appeal.

Buxton argues in the permit appeal that the system doesn't meet state law requirements for reliable and representative monitoring for every air quality regulation.

Ecology had issued an extension to allow the mill to complete an experimental project that was under way on those systems prior to requiring the company to collect baseline data for meeting MACT standards.

Ultimately, the mill did not need the full extension. It has been in compliance with the MACT standard since the permit was issued.

Ecology's Industrial Section issues air operating permits to all seven of the chemical pulp and paper mills currently operating in Washington, including Port Townsend Paper.

These permits combine applicable federal and state requirements for controlling and monitoring air emissions."

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071221/NEWS/712210308