Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) invites the public to submit written comments on the draft permit renewal to the Air Operating Permit (AOP) and associated Technical Support Document (TSD) for the Sierra Pacific Industries – Aberdeen Lumber Mill (SPI), 301 Hagara Street, Aberdeen, Washington.
Project Summary
AOPs are required pursuant to Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act and are designed to help ensure compliance with applicable air quality regulations and standards. AOPs have a fixed permit term, after which they must be renewed. This will be the second renewal of the initial AOP issued on August 13, 2010 for SPI.
The draft renewal of SPI’s AOP and TSD are available for review and comment from January 27, 2022 through 5 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2022.
Permitting Process Information
Copies of the draft AOP, TSD, and the official Public Notice are available for review at the links below (PDF documents). You may also contact ORCAA at (360) 539-7610 for these documents or other records.
Draft Air Operating Permit (AOP) | Draft Technical Support Document (TSD) | Public Notice
How to Comment
Submit comments by mail, fax, or email to:
Olympic Region Clean Air AgencyAttn: Aaron Manley2940 Limited Lane NWOlympia, WA 98502
FAX: (360) 491-6308
Email: aaron.manley@orcaa.org
Comments should pertain to adequacy of the AOP and TSD in assuring compliance with applicable air quality regulations and standards. Any concerned party may request a public hearing within the specified public comment period. The request should include information to justify the need for a public hearing. If there is significant public interest, ORCAA will hold and will provide advanced notice of a public hearing.
All comments are due by 5 p.m., February 28, 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions:
About the facility:
The SPI Facility is a lumber mill located on a 46-acre riverfront property in Junction City, Grays Harbor County, approximately 1.5 miles east of downtown Aberdeen and less than a mile across the Chehalis River from South Aberdeen and Cosmopolis. The facility is adjacent to the Sierra Pacific Industries Cogeneration Plan permitted under 12AOP873.
The lumber mill produces both kiln-dried and green lumber, as well as wood residual products such as chips and hog fuel, from western hemlock and Douglas fir. The SPI Lumber Facility currently includes five significant emissions units: a natural gas fired package boiler, a set of double track lumber dry kilns, a planer mill and associated dust collection system, an anti-mold spray system, and a diesel engine powering the emergency fire pump.
What air pollutants are emitted from SPI?
The SPI Facility is a major source of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), total Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP), and the individual HAPs acetaldehyde and methanol. It is therefore subject to Title V of the federal Clean Air Act and required to operate under an AOP.
Will air pollutant emissions increase as a result of approving this AOP?
No. AOPs take pre-existing air emissions limits and other air-related requirements from multiple origins such as state regulations, federal regulations and construction permit approvals, and organize them under a single permit. AOPs must also establish sufficient monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements to assure continuous compliance with applicable limits and requirements.
How does SPI assure compliance?
SPI operates several air pollution control devices and implements pollution prevention measures to meet air emissions limits and standards. All air pollution control equipment and monitoring systems are explained in the TSD for SPI.
How does ORCAA monitor compliance?
ORCAA monitors compliance by several means, including, but not limited to, inspecting SPI at least annually, observing air emissions testing, reviewing semi-annual monitoring reports, reviewing emissions monitoring data, and evaluating performance of SPI’s air pollution control systems. ORCAA is an enforcement agency with authority to issue notices of violation and assess penalties.