JAY – The Planning Board voted Tuesday to set aside a town plan for an engineering study to determine the cause of soot emissions at Wausau Paper’s Otis mill.
Instead, the board approved the company’s proposal to hire a Tennessee company do that study, as recommended by the paper mill’s corporate office.
On Tuesday, the Planning Board also directed that the town’s code enforcement officer and the Wright-Pierce engineer initially hired by the town work with the paper mill on that study. The specialty paper mill makes paper products and masking tape at the mill in downtown Jay.
There have been complaints from residents over the years of damage done by the acid soot discharges that land on vehicles and other property. The company has continually tried to fix the problem but hasn’t been able to eliminate it.
In early August, the Planning Board stepped in and hired Topsham engineering firm Wright-Pierce to conduct a study. The town planned to pay $6,100 for that work.
In late August, mill officials requested that the town’s study be put on hold and an engineering firm of the mill’s choice do the work.
Environmental Code Enforcement Officer Shiloh Ring recommended to the Planning Board on Tuesday that the study be a collaborative effort between the town and mill, and that she oversee the work.
“It is beneficial to participate in a collaborative effort between Otis and the board to resolve the issue of soot releases,” Ring stated in the board order.
The order that was approved also adopted a schedule outlining when ESI Inc. of Tennessee, an engineering company, will complete its study.
By Nov. 30, Otis is required to submit a report containing the findings and recommendations of the engineering study. That is to contain detailed analysis and documentation sufficient to identify the cause of the soot discharges and to demonstrate the that recommended modifications will address the issues.
Planning Board member Barbara Cook said the board has met with Otis officials for months on the soot problem to try to help the company resolve the issue. She wanted to know why the company is suddenly deciding to have a corporate study done.
Plant Engineer Mike Lawson said he thinks it is an opportunity to share in the costs and share in the process. Lawson said the mill has been pretty open with the town about the problems and has been trying to address each one as it comes up.
“I’m not going to let up on this schedule,” Cook said.
She wants the information no later than Nov. 30, she said. She said she won’t agree to an extension if the mill requests one.
Chairman Delance White said he didn’t see a problem with a proposal as long as “we’re working together.”
The board also approved a minor modification to the company’s air-emission permit that may also help the soot problem.
In other business, the board also accepted an application with changes from Jay Realty Trust, which consists of Bob and Sandy Bahre, to create a new lot in the town-owned subdivision at the Jay Plaza. The town leases the subdivision to Jay Realty Trust, which in turn subleases the lots to businesses. Androscoggin Bank is proposing to build a new bank there.
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