Amerities West

Public Information MeetingThursday, February 27

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Information on the Air Contaminant

Discharge Permit (ACDP)

Amerities West is applying for a renewal of its Air Quality Permit with the DEQ.

Amerities West operates a wood preserving facility located on Tie Plant Road in The Dalles, Oregon. The company treats railroad ties with a creosote mixture in five large pressure cylinders (retorts) as part of this operation.

The process includes two boilers (natural gas/ oil), three sawdust and particulate emission collection systems (called cyclones) and five retorts used to treat the wood.

Link to Google Maps image of Amerities

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Why is an air permit required? The following operations at Amerities West are required to have an air permit under Division 216, Table 1:

83. Wood Preserving Operations13. Boilers and other Fuel Burning Equipment 84. Any other source of odors, including drip pads

If the drafted permit meets applicable state environmental laws, DEQ is required to issue the permit.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Changes implemented at the plant since last permit to address odor issues:

•Staggered retort load/unload times•Extended east wall of the treating plant to improve mist system mixing zone•Shortened retort door open times•Installed plastic freezer strips below the east wall

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Retort cylinders used for treating

Treated railroad tie on the drip pad

What are the sources of the odors at the plant?Creosote emissions from:•Pressure treating operations •Railroad ties drying on the drip pad•Railroad ties out in the yard

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Odor complaints Received by DEQ:

Year #• 2014 -2 so far• 2013 -11• 2012- 4• 2011 - 33• 2010 -24• 2009 - 7

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Nuisance Odor Background•There has been ongoing public concern about permitted facility odor nuisances.

• A nuisance substantially and unreasonably interferes with individual use and enjoyment of real property.

• Due to increasing density and housing located near businesses, DEQ has been receiving more nuisance complaints.

• State laws prohibit businesses from emitting odors that cause a nuisance. DEQ is responsible for implementing those laws.

•DEQ wants a reliable and defensible way to apply our nuisance strategy rules to odor complaints related to facilities with air, water and waste permits.

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Nuisance Odor Background continued

• April 2013: DEQ land, air and water team developed an improved strategy to investigate, analyze and respond to odor complaints and nuisance odor conditions.

•The strategy is based on existing regulations for odor complaints from permitted facilities.

• May - July 2013: DEQ gathered public input.

• August 2013: DEQ incorporated input and finalized the strategy.

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Overview of the Process

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Step 1Nuisance

Complaint Intake• Complaint comes in through DEQ complaint system

• Determine if the complaint is within the scope of the nuisance strategy

• Call complainant

• Staff follow up on enforcing permit requirements or regulations to abate odor

• If odor problem still exists, evaluate priority of source

• Complete Intake Form

Next steps

• Public hearings are a formal process for DEQ to solicit input on the draft permit.

• Comments should address conditions in the draft permit. DEQ will only respond to comments that meet this criterion.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Submitting a question:By card By email•Response to questions will be placed on the DEQ internet site•Next steps? DEQ will draft a permit and hold a public hearing for the public to comment on

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality