Jump to main content.


Project XL Logo

Weyerhaeuser Company

Weyerhaeuser Press Release

Weyerhaeuser Becomes An EPA "XL" Site Only 3rd Nationwide To Be Approved

Oglethorpe, Ga. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced they have reached agreement with Weyerhaeuser Company and their Flint River Pulp Operations, located in Oglethorpe, Georgia, regarding a final project agreement (FPA) in the innovative Project XL program. A program initiated by President Clinton, Project XL (eXcellence and Leadership) ws created by EPA as part of their initiative to provide regulatory flexibility in exchange for obtaining superior environmental results.

Weyerhaeuser is the only forest products company to be accepted into the EPA's XL program. Flint River is the third facility in the United States to reach a Final Project Agreement.

Under the signed agreement, the Flint River Operations agrees to continue to perform beyond regulatory requirements. As an incentive for this level of superior environmental performance, the EPA and Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) will provide more flexible and lower cost processes for regulatory management. The benefits include continued superior environmental results while improving the ability of the mill to meet customer demands, and enhancing shareholder value. The FPA agreement boosts re-use and recycling of process chemicals and reduce wastes, air and water discharges and odors at the mill.

Kent L. Walker, vice-president and site manager of Weyerhaeuser's Flint River Operations commented, "We are proud to be a part of this innovative program and believe this is a common sense approach by EPA and industry to achieving superior environmental performance for regulatory flexibility. The project reduces pollution while reducing red tape. It will save time and money for the company, the government and taxpayers, while protecting the environment."

The Project XL final project agreement signing took place on Friday, January 17, 1997 at the Flint River Operations plant site. Signatories included: Stan Melburg, deputy regional administrator for the EPA; David Word, assistant director, Georgia EPD; Robert Kerr, director, Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division; and Kent Walker for Weyerhaeuser. Terms of the agreement will be in effect for 15 years.

Negotiations to reach an FPA have been occurring between Weyerhaeuser Company, the U.S. EPA, and the State of Georgia EPD since the company's acceptance into the program in December 1995. Additionally, national and area stakeholders participated in creating the final agreement. The general public was also given the opportunity to comment during a 30-day public comment period. As part of the FPA, Weyerhaeuser Company will continue to seek public input through annual public meetings during the life of the project.

The Flint River Operations has been recognized by many organizations as an environmental leader in the industry, used as a model to set standards by the EPA, and most recently received the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's 1996 Water Protection Citizen of the Year. The plant produces cellulose pulp used in the manufacture of disposable diapers.

Weyerhaeuser Company is one of the largest integrated forest products companies in the world. Its principal business segments are timberlands and wood products; pulp, paper and packaging; and real estate and financial services. It is the world's largest private owner of merchantable softwood timber and producer of softwood lumber and market pulp. It is also one of North America's largest producers of forest products and recyclers of office wastepaper, newspaper and corrugated boxes.


Local Navigation


Jump to main content.