Sappi Fine Paper, the operator of the S.D. Warren mill, wants to burn processed construction and demolition debris there to fuel one of its boilers.
The company has filed an application with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection get a permit to to burn the debris.
The company sent out a notice of its intent to file to residents earlier this month. At its meeting Monday night, the City Council asked the administration to request the Department of Environmental Protection hold a public hearing on the application.
On Tuesday morning, City Administrator Jerre Bryant said he was sending in the request that day and he had no indication as to when a public hearing on the matter would be scheduled.
Sappi spokesman Jeffrey Pina said last week that the materials that would be burned would be clean wood and did not represent a hazard. “It’s not like burning fossil fuels,” he said.
Randy McMullin, an environmental specialist with the Department of Environmental Protection, who is handling the Sappi application, said the materials to be burned would consist of old lumber and construction debris that has been processed and chipped into small fuel chips. Treated wood such as pressure treated lumber and railroad ties would not be burned, he said. “None of that gets chipped up,” said McMullin.
The mill is looking to burn the debris to generate steam to run the mill, and McMullin said it is common for large mills to burn chipped wood as fuel. He said the Department of Environmental Protection keeps a close watch on what is burned, and also makes sure the leftover ash is disposed of in special landfills. “It has to be managed properly,” he said.
McMullin said as part of the application process, the mill held a test burn in March, and it didn’t appear as though there were any problems. “It does not appear that there are any environmental issues there,” he said.
McMullin said the department is still processing the application and he didn’t know when a final decision would be made. He added if the department approves the application, the mill would be restricted to burning wood only. “We’re not going to let them burn trash,” he said.
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