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PA NON-DETECTABLE DIOXIN (PULP & PAPER MILL)

Release Date: 02/04/97
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PA NON-DETECTABLE DIOXIN (PULP & PAPER MILL)

FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1997

EPA SETS "NON-DETECTABLE" DIOXIN EFFLUENT LIMIT FOR MAINE PULP AND PAPER MILL



On Thursday, Jan. 23, EPA's New England Office and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection announced new
"non-detectable" dioxin wastewater permit limits for Lincoln Pulp & Paper Co., in Lincoln, Maine. These are the most stringent
dioxin limits ever required by EPA of a paper mill in the United States. Lincoln is an integrated bleached kraft paper mill making
recycled products from waste sawdust. The "non-detectable" dioxin limit is set at 10 parts per quadrillion at the bleach plant.
To meet the requirements of this permit, Lincoln will continue and augment its existing pollution prevention strategies to address
the formation of dioxin at its source, rather than rely solely on waste treatment to reduce dioxin already formed in the bleaching
process. Lincoln also has committed to continue efforts to eliminate dioxin in the long term. The State of Maine is examining
how to reduce dioxin levels so that Maine's fish consumption advisories for dioxin can be lifted by the year 2000. For more
information, contact Alice Kaufman at 617-565-4592.