The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently published a report on the air emissions monitored near the Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC) mill in Port Townsend, Wash.
The study – called an Exposure Investigation (EI) – came at the request of the Washington Department of Health (DOH) following expressed interest from numerous residents and groups around Jefferson County. You may find the study, based on air monitoring research in 2018, at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/PortTownsendPaperCorp/Port-Townsend-HC-508.pdf
According to ATSDR, the EI sought, “to determine if the communities near PTPC have been exposed to harmful contaminants in air from the facility and review data on the general air quality in the area. As part of the EI process, ATSDR compared the measured concentrations to health-based screening levels, which are intended to protect the public from negative health effects from acute (less than 14 days), intermediate (14 days to less than 1 year), or chronic exposures (greater than 1 year).”
Conclusions reached in the study include that there could be acute respiratory effects from air emissions – specifically, sulfur compounds – in the area.
The pulp and paper mill operates under two environmental permits issued by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). The two permits are an air operating permit (AOP) for air emissions, and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for wastewater discharge. Ecology can be reached through their dedicated PTPC webpage at https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Permits-certifications/Industrial-facilities-permits/Port-Townsend-Paper
Public Meeting Scheduled
On Wednesday, July 10, ATSDR hosts a pair of public meetings to share information about the EI. The meetings will be held at the Marine Pope Building, 530 Water Street, Port Townsend, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
ORCAA appreciates the work of ATSDR for the valuable information for the communities of Port Townsend and Jefferson County, and its surrounding neighbors.
ORCAA is committed to helping residents access the information they need to understand their ambient air issues. Though ORCAA has no jurisdiction over the PTPC permit or operations, ORCAA continues to serve as a conduit for information and resource-management for public education.
