Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced that on January 12, the DEQ entered into a Stipulation for Entry of a Final Order by Consent with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Decorative Panels International, Inc. The consent order resolves alleged violations of objectionable odors generated from the Alpena facility’s sludge dryer and wastewater treatment system in August 2001, June 2002, and April, May, and September 2003. The DEQ initiated the consent order when the previous owner, Louisiana-Pacific, still owned the facility.

Under the terms of the consent order, DPI is responsible for operating the facility in compliance with an odor control plan for the wastewater treatment system, maintaining the rerouting of the sludge dryer exhaust to a boiler for combustion and odor control, and otherwise operating the facility to ensure objectionable odors are not emitted from the sludge handling or wastewater treatment systems. Louisiana-Pacific is responsible for paying fines associated with the past violations in the amount of $25,000 to the State of Michigan.

DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised January 31, 2005 by Alice Stimpson