West Fraser has applied for a new air permit for their McDavid Lumber Mill.
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, West Fraser proposes to build two new continuous lumber drying kilns at their facility located off Highway 29 between McDavid and Molino. They will be indirectly heated by the facility’s existing natural gas-fire boilers. The new kilns will replace three existing batch lumber drying kilns.
West Fraser “has provided reasonable assurance that operation of the two continuous drying kilns will not adversely impact air quality”, according to FDEP. The agency has given notice that it intends to issue the air permit.
Based on the air permit application, the project will result in emissions increases of: 11.25 tons per year of carbon monoxide; 6.24 tons per year of nitrogen oxides; 19.77 tons per year of particulate matter; 9.80 tons per year of particulate matter with a mean diameter of 10 microns or less; 4.14 tons per year of particulate matter with a mean diameter of 2.5 microns or less; 0.03 tons per year of sulfur dioxide; 337.29 tons per year of volatile organic compounds (VOC); and 7,900 tons per year of greenhouse gases.
As defined by state regulations, the project results in significant net emissions increases for VOC emissions, per FDEP.
The state’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality Modeling Best Practices was only triggered for the VOC emissions.
“The primary concern with respect to VOC emissions is the influence of such emissions on the formation of ozone in the region of the project site. An analysis conducted by the Department showed that the increase in VOC emissions resulting from the project will have no appreciable effect on ozone concentration in the region of the project site,” FDEP stated.
According to FDEP, West Fraser currently has the second highest emission level of volatile organic compounds in Escambia County, and that amount will increase by 50.1%, but remain about one-third of the VOC emissions from International Paper. (See FDEP table above, click to enlarge.)
West Fraser intends to begin construction of the first kiln immediately upon issuance of the air construction permit and is expected to take approximately three to five months to complete. The construction of the second kiln and the elimination of the three existing kilns is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
The McDavid Lumber Mill processes southern yellow pine logs and has the capacity to produce up to 250 million board feet of lumber per year (MMBF/year). The facility contains three batch lumber drying kilns and a planer mill. The principal processes at the mill include: log storage and processing (debarking and sawing); sawmill operations (chipping and sawing); drying of green lumber using three indirect steam-heated batch kilns; and product lumber finishing, sorting, and shipping, according to the state.
13 Responses to “West Fraser McDavid Mill Seeks New Air Permit; VOC Emissions Could Increase Up To 50%”
It’s a shame someone believes that it’s cause for celebration because their father didn’t miss a day of work in 25 years.
Pretty sure everyone could use a sick day here and there without it reflecting poorly on their work ethic.
To Concerned, It’s small minded to assume that a retired person has “ set income “ Look at how many retired folks had to go back to work because of inflation.
The people just want clean air for the community. Things can be done like air scrubbers and monitors.
I’m glad your father was not a cancer statistic, but the polluted air affects the entire community.
We have to get on board with protecting our beautiful world, we can’t just move to another Planet.
Dear concerned: I am 30 years old, fully employed, and have lived in Flomaton my entire life. My family has lived in this areas for at least 150 years. And many members of my family have died of cancer. I’ve also noticed a noticeable decrease in air quality over the years. We cannot keep poisoning ourselves. There are plenty of jobs out there waiting to be had. We cannot keep throwing away our health for the sake of keeping some people employed. I don’t suggest sending jobs overseas. I suggest finding new, less harmful ways of producing energy and the things we want. And likely the establishment of new things would lead to jobs. I am for an America that cares about the health of its children.
Are the majority making these comments retired? If so no wonder you don’t care if this mill shuts down or not. You have your set income.
Sounds like most people making comments has never worked or lived near industry in your lifetime. I’ve lived my life in this area from birth to present. My dad worked at Chemstrand/Monsanta 25 years without missing a day. He didn’t die from cancer. With these comments in mind had you rather send All paying jobs to oversees and let our government take care of you and be like the communist nations or have a job where you can make the decision if you want this or that? We can choose to have a family fun nation or a miserable dictated United States of America. As for me and my house we will Serve The Lord! We will also, stand for The United States of America!
I live less than ten miles away from this plant. Great. Between the huge sand quarry behind me, the huge new power company’s natural gas lines running through my back yard and now this. Molino is becoming a death trap.
Vote out republicans is a good place to start.
Now! all y’all know that neither the Federal, State or local governments care whether or not you can breathe or are poisoned by these corporations!!! The fat cats don’t have to live in these areas and could careless what happens, as long as it doesn’t affect their bottom line. The bottom line is the only thing that they understand, hit them where it hurts and they will fix this mess or shut it down.
Here we go…jobs or fresh air. Majority rules.
It is sometimes hard to breathe now. Especially after covid. And, it STINKS! Do not want to move. But, I would really like to breathe. I hope someone stops this. Is MONEY the ONLY thing that matters to those “in charge?” What spirit motivates these people? Most of us cannot afford a swank location where there is good air. DISGUSTING ! ! ! So sick of what seems to be gross greed.
Why should we, the citizens of the North part of the county and the world altogether have to put up with the increase in emissions!!! How about they put in one new kiln and take the $$ for the other and put in scrubbers and monitoring equipment!!
It should be noted that one volcano popping off negates all the world wide savings in emissions standards. There are at least a dozen of active volcano’s spewing emissions in the atmosphere each year.
Please please please no. The air quality is already poor. There are no sensors in our small towns. The lung cancer rate for Escambia, Alabama is already far higher than the rest of the state. Stop killing us.
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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
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