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Release 07-41 |
Leo Kay (916) 322-2990 www.arb.ca.gov |
$4.1 million toward emission control equipment, $900,000 in fines
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the
North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District today announced a $5 million settlement with Evergreen Pulp,
Inc. that will protect air quality in the Eureka, California area by reducing emissions of particulate matter and
hazardous air pollutants from its wood pulp mill by approximately 340 tons annually.
Evergreen Pulp allegedly violated the federal emission standard for hazardous air pollutants by approximately 230
percent, and violated monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The company also allegedly violated
state air pollution control laws for nuisance, opacity, and air pollution control equipment maintenance requirements.
"Emissions from pulp mills can have a significant impact on air quality in the immediate area around these
facilities," said Deborah Jordan, director of the EPA's Air Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "Today's
settlement reduces harmful air emissions by nearly 340 tons each year, providing a clear environmental benefit
for the surrounding community."
"The people of Eureka and surrounding communities along Humboldt Bay will breathe easier thanks to this team
effort by local, state and federal regulators," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols.
Under the settlement, Evergreen will pay a combined penalty totaling $900,000 to be shared equally among the three
regulatory agencies. The company also spent approximately $4 million to install a pollution control device on its
lime kiln that uses electric charges to capture and collect tiny particles of air pollution. Recent source tests
show that the device is reducing harmful particulate emissions.
The company also spent about $100,000 in 2005 to install and operate an additional pollution control device on
its smelt dissolver tank. The company also agreed to continue monitoring the performance of air pollution controls
of the company's smelt dissolver.
"The hard work of all parties to reach a settlement in this case is significant to both air quality conditions
and our economy. In particular, I am appreciative of Evergreen's willingness to work toward much needed improvements
and to our local Air District staff who have diligently pursued the necessary resolution to this matter."
said John Woolley, North Coast Air District Board member.
Particulate matter adversely affects humans -- principally through inhalation and the deposit of particles in the
nose, throat, and lungs. Health effects from chronic exposure to high levels of particulate matter range from nasal
irritation to bronchitis to emphysema. Young children and the elderly are the most susceptible to the adverse effects
of particulate matter exposure because of their relatively limited ability to eliminate particulate matter once
it is deposited in the body.
Pulp mills also emit toxic metals including, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese,
nickel, and selenium. Health effects associated with exposure to these toxics metals can include cancer, reproductive
and developmental effects, gastrointestinal effects, damage to the nervous system, and irritation to the eyes,
skin, and respiratory system.
The Evergreen settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and
is subject to a 30-day public comment period. A copy of the consent decree will be available on the U.S. Department
of Justice Web site here.
The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to
promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants
while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in
California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.
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