PERMIT CASE STAYED Blue Ridge, Environmental Groups Reach Partial Settlement

May 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Canton, North Carolina, (May 7, 2012)  The contested cases challenging the water quality permit issued to Blue Ridge Paper Product's Canton, North Carolina mill have been stayed. The resolution means the mill can continue to operate under the permit issued May 26, 2010, and the mill will continue to meet the tougher environmental standards the permit contains.
The permit as issued by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality requires the mill to monitor and meet a water temperature limit downstream of the mill based on a monthly average.  The mill has met this requirement in the past and currently meets the permit requirements on an ongoing basis.  As part of this settlement, the permit will require the mill to meet the water temperature limit based on a weekly average.

Blue Ridge Paper has begun work on a proposed site specific study of color levels  in the Pigeon River in North Carolina. The study protocols will be approved by DWQ and EPA. After the study is completed, which is expected in January 2013, the parties will determine whether they can resolve outstanding issues relating to the color variance issued to the mill and dismiss the remaining issues in the contested cases.

"This agreement largely validates what was already a good permit...the result of a good process," said Blue Ridge Plant Manager Dane Griswold. "Having this issue settled means we can continue to provide jobs for hundreds of Western North Carolina families, continue to meet the needs of our customers and ensure the quality of the Pigeon River continues to improve."  

The agreement has been approved by Blue Ridge Paper Products, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, the NPDES Committee of the Environmental Management Commission, Cocke County, Tennessee, Clean Water Expected for East Tennessee, Clean Water for North Carolina, the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association and the Western North Carolina Alliance.
As the agreement notes the settlement was reached "without any contested case hearing, and without any admission of liability."
"We're proud to point out that even while this litigation was underway we have already been keeping our promises and meeting the terms of this new permit," added Griswold.


For more information contact:
Mike Cohen
Cohen Communications Group
Mike@CohenCommunicationsGroup.com    
865-659-4750