[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 4760-4761] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-2463] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5682-7] Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability of Weyerhaeuser Project XL final project agreement and related documents. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the signing of the Project XL Final Project Agreement (FPA) for Weyerhaeuser Company's Flint River Kraft pulp mill in Oglethorpe, Georgia. DATES: The FPA was signed on 17 January 1997. ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the Final Project Agreement, Fact Sheet, or Question and Answer Document, contact: Michelle Glenn; US EPA; Weyerhaeuser Project XL Regional Lead; 100 Alabama Street (Waste Division, 10th Floor); Atlanta, Georgia 30303, or L. Nancy Birnbaum; US EPA; Weyerhaeuser Project XL Headquarters Lead; 401 M Street, SW (2129); Washington, DC 20460. These documents are also available via the internet as the following location: ``http://www.epa.gov/ ProjectXL''. Questions to EPA regarding the documents can be directed to Michelle Glenn at (404) 562-8674 or L. Nancy Birnbaum at (202) 260- 2601. To be included on the Weyerhaeuser Project XL mailing list to receive information about future public meetings, XL progress reports, and other mailings from Weyerhaeuser on the XL project, contact: Janet McElmurray; Weyerhaeuser Company; c/o Project XL; PO Box 238; Oglethorpe, GA 31068. Ms. McElmurray can also be reached by telephone at (912) 472-5230. Environmental Protection Agency; 3202 Mall; 401 M Street, S.W.; Mail Code 2129; Washington, DC 20460. The telephone number for the Division is (202) 260-5754. The facsimile number is (202) 401-6637. Additional information on Project XL, including documents referenced in this notice, other EPA policy documents related to Project XL, regional XL contacts, application information, and descriptions of existing XL projects and proposals, is available via the internet at ``http:// www.epa.gov/ProjectXL'' and via an automated fax-on-demand menu at (202) 260-8590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Glenn; US EPA; Weyerhaeuser Project XL Regional Lead; 100 Alabama Street (Waste Division, 10th Floor); Atlanta, Georgia 30303; (404) 562-8674, or L. Nancy Birnbaum; US EPA; Weyerhaeuser Project XL Headquarters Lead; 401 M Street, SW (2129); Washington, DC 20460; (202) 260-2601. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FPA is a voluntary agreement developed collaboratively by Weyerhaeuser Flint River, local community members, and state and federal regulators. Project XL, announced in the Federal Register on May 23, 1995 (FRL-5197-9), gives regulated sources the flexibility to develop alternative strategies that will replace or modify specific regulatory requirements on the condition that they produce greater environmental benefits. EPA has set a goal of implementing a total of fifty projects undertaken in full partnership with the states. Through the FPA, Weyerhaeuser has agreed to implement a range of pollution prevention and other environmental protection measures that will have superior environmental and related benefits. Weyerhaeuser will study methods to reduce bleach plant flow by fifty percent, enhance timberlands management programs, incorporate ISO 14001 standards into the upgrade of the plant's environmental management system, implement improved energy conservation, reduce solid waste generation by half, improve water quality discharged to the river, and decrease raw water demand. Weyerhaeuser will also conduct a variety of feasibility studies to further reduce the environmental impact of the mill, and share lessons learned with all parties to the FPA and stakeholders. [[Page 4761]] Weyerhaeuser has requested that flexibility be granted in meeting reporting and testing requirements associated with a number of regulatory programs as well as some of the requirements of the Clean Air Act and the proposed EPA cluster rules. Emission and discharge testing will continue. Weyerhaeuser proposed, however, that routine reporting of such testing be replaced with mid-year and end-of-year compliance reports. All records of testing and results will be available upon request. Reporting not covered by the agreement will continue. Enforcement mechanisms now available to the State and EPA will remain in place. Weyerhaeuser has also requested a dual emission cap system which would give the facility the flexibility to make process changes or add equipment while providing a strong incentive to maintain or lower overall facility air emissions. The flexibility of the dual cap system should allow the facility to fully utilize several previously permitted units without triggering permitting requirements for otherwise minor changes in the plant. When the rule requiring the use of maximum available control technology (MACT) for the pulp and paper industry is promulgated (this is currently proposed as part of EPA's cluster rule), the parties to the FPA will perform an assessment to quantify the reductions in hazardous air pollutants required of the facility under the rule. The FPA contemplates that Weyerhaeuser will be given the flexibility to demonstrate that the required reductions of hazardous air pollutants can be achieved through the use of innovative pollution prevention and engineering approaches instead of prescribed end-of-pipe controls. Weyerhaeuser would be permitted to use existing voluntary actions at non-MACT, non-regulated emission sources as well as future reductions at non-MACT sources for compliance purposes. Because the MACT rule is not yet final, there is some uncertainty regarding the type of flexibility that Weyerhaeuser will request. However, the FPA contemplates additional or alternative enforceable mechanisms as appropriate, and commits the parties to engage in good faith discussions of the necessity, feasibility, nature, and form of these mechanisms. After careful consideration of the benefits offered by the project, balanced against the flexibility granted to Weyerhaeuser, EPA believes that the actions described in the FPA meet the criteria for an XL project. Dated: January 24, 1997. Jon Kessler, Director, Emerging Sectors and Strategies Division. [FR Doc. 97-2463 Filed 1-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-M