Group seeks to block new mercury emission permits

LEWISTON – An environmental group wants Idaho officials to temporarily block new mercury emission permits because of a company’s proposed plan to burn waste material at its pulp mill in this north-central Idaho city.

The Idaho Conservation League contends such burning would result in the release of hundreds of pounds of the harmful agent into the atmosphere.

The league filed a petition Friday with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s board of directors, which is scheduled to meet April 25 to make a decision.

If the board agrees to temporarily block new mercury emission permits, that decision would have to be approved by Gov. Butch Otter.

Specifically, the conservation group wants the Environmental Quality board to block any new permits that would allow five pounds or more of mercury to be emitted from any facility annually until the state can come up with stricter rules governing mercury emissions.

Current rules fall short of protecting human health, the group contends.

High amounts of mercury can damage the human nervous system, particularly in developing fetuses.

The petition was filed ahead of a decision Environmental Quality is expected to announce soon in response to a request by Potlatch Corp., a Spokane-based forest products company that is Idaho’s largest private landowner.

The company has asked Idaho for permission to burn construction demolition materials and other waste at a Lewiston mill to generate power.

“It’s really irresponsible of Potlatch to be putting forth a request to be allowed to emit annually in Lewiston the amount of mercury that comes out of 13 coal plants,” said Justin Hayes, a spokesman for the conservation group.

The company in 2006 asked to be allowed to emit 1,700 pounds of mercury annually. An amended permit application asks for the same amount, said Carole Zundel, an air quality permit writer at the department.

She said the permit could be out for public comment in a month, unless more negotiations with the company are needed.

Matt Van Vleet, a Potlatch Corp. spokesman in Lewiston, said the company has agreed to permit terms that would forbid burning materials at the mill that could lead to mercury emissions, but did not say that meant no mercury would be emitted.

“We have had discussions with DEQ regarding mercury and have agreed to permit conditions that would prevent the use of mercury-contaminated fuel,” Van Vleet said. “We have not seen a draft permit based on our most recent application. We expect DEQ will issue one soon.”

A draft permit has not been made public.

The company has traditionally burned scrap wood from sawmills and timber harvest operations to generate power. But that fuel, called hog fuel, has become harder to come by with a downturn in the wood products industry caused by a dip in the housing market.