Georgia Pacific Arkansas Paper Mill Faces Huge Fine for Air Quality Violation

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Georgia-Pacific’s paper mill in south Arkansas has been fined for emissions of harmful chemicals exceeding permitted limits. The Crossett mill has been ordered to pay $600,000 in fines to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. In addition, the company will have to spend around $1.8 million on environmental projects. The company has been ordered to carry out significant facility upgrades so as to reduce air pollutants. The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final approval by a judge.

An EPA inspection at the paper mill facility earlier in 2015 had cited several violations including leaks of hazardous chemicals, monitoring failures and lack of implementation of proper procedures. Residents had raised complaints regarding excessive emission of hydrogen sulfide from the plant, leading to severe health issues such as breathing troubles and cancer.

The settlement calls for installation of a 600,000-gallon tank at a cost of around $1 million within nine months. This tank will ensure controlled flow of waste products to the system by collecting liquors, fibers and other materials. As part of EPA settlement, Georgia Pacific has also committed to spend nearly $500,000 in a project that will significantly increase the level of oxygen injected into the wastewater treatment system, which in turn may lead to notable reduction in emissions and odor.