The Sun Journal’s Nov. 11 editorial on the clean-up of the Androscoggin River suggests that International Paper struck some sort of secret deal with the Department of Environmental Protection to somehow subvert the clean-up process. This simply is not true.

International Paper was asked by the state Legislature to work with the DEP in good faith to come to agreement on plans to go beyond compliance on our recently issued wastewater discharge permit, which we did. This beyond-compliance agreement says that we not only will meet the terms of our permit, but also will significantly reduce biological oxygen demand, which will further improve water quality in the river.

The suggestions by several environmental groups and your newspaper that the intent of this agreement was to “circumvent access by the public to information” is ridiculous. The intent was to respond to the Legislature’s request for additional steps to advance the clean-up process. Now, this unnecessary sniping has forced DEP Commissioner Dawn Gallagher to throw out a solid plan that would do just that.

International Paper is committed to continued improvement in water quality in the Androscoggin River. This improvement must be based on sound science and thoughtful public policy, not emotional accusations and finger-pointing. By giving in to the latter, the environmental groups and the Sun Journal have set the process back unnecessarily.

Rildo Martini, mill manager, Androscoggin Mill, Jay