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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Poll Control - Fox LumberYELLOWSTONE COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (406) 256-6841 3306 Second Avenue North Fax (406) 256-6891 Billings, MT 59101 Mayor John Johnson . SIP 8 2.003 P.O. Box lO I j Laurel, Mt. 59044 C[TY [,) [ [. P~ [J R [ [. Dear Mayor: Enclosed is material related to the Fox Lumber fugitive sawdust case for your review. First, a picture of Fox Lumber taken on 8/22/01 showing no conveyor system from the main baghouse cyclone to the hopper system. It was not until the spring of 2002 that the conveyor system was installed, and the conveyor system never operated properly. Consequently, a baghouse cyclone system was installed in the fall of 2002 to correct the problem. Next, a file note on the Fox Lumber inspection of 8/1/03 is enclosed. The inspection report prepared by Jim Hughes, DEQ Compliance Air Quality Specialist, was included in last month's board material. Next, a timeline of events that led to the resolution of this case is presented. In September 2002, I granted a ninety (90) day variance to exceed the air quality standards at manufacturing plant #2. By the end of this ninety day period, the new baghouse cyclone system had been installed. Finally, a picture of the self-contained sawdust containment system is enclosed. If you have any question concerning this material, contact me at 256-6844. Sincerely, Russell Boschee Director cc: Larry Alheim - DEQ Enfomement ce: Roger Godfrey - DEQ Compliance M~ '~EQ ENFORCEMENT DMSION CVID: 4180 SUEJECT: Fox Lumber / Distribution LOCATION: 203 Shannon Rd., Laurel COUNTY: Yellowstone DATE: 8/22/01 WEATHER; Partly cloudy and warm PHOTOGRAPHER: Ed Co. an ~. ~ PHOTOGRAPHER (sig. ~~~-~ CAMERA: Fuji DL-270 Zoom, 35mm FILM TYPE: Kodak Gold, 200 ASA NEGATIVE LOCATION: Hardfile EXPLANATION: Sawdust wind piled around lumber yard MT DEQ ENFD PHOTO #: 2 CVID: 4180 SUBJECT: Fox Lumber / Distribution LOCATION: 203 Shannon Rd., Laurel COUNTY: Yellowstone DATE: 8/22/01 WEATHER: Partly cloudy and warm PHOTOGRAPHER: Ed Coleman PHOTOGRAPHER Isig.~_ ~.~----~~'-- CAMERA: Fuji DL-270 Zoom, 35mm FILM TYPE: Kodak Gold, 200 ASA NEGATIVE LOCATION: Hardfile EXPLANATION: Sawdust laying around lumber yard MT DEQ ENFD PHOTO #: $ CVID: 4180 SUEJECT: Fox Lumber / Distribution LOCATION: 203 Shannon Rd., Laurel COUNTY: Yellowstone DATE: 8/22/01 WEATHER: Partiy cloudy and warm PHOTOGRAPHER: Ed C~an ..~-.~ PHOTOGRAPHER CAMERA: Fuji DL-2?0 Zoom, 3Sram FILM TYPE: Kodak Gold, 200 ASA NEGATIVE LOCATION: Hardfile EXPLANATION: Wind blown sawdustplles around lumber Yard Date: August 1, 2003 From: Russell Boschee, YCAPC Director To: File Subject: Fox Lumber Re: Fox Lmnber Inspection On 8/1/03, Jim Hughes, DEQ Compliance Air Quality Specialist, and I conducted an inspection at Fox Lumber in Laurel to determine if they were in compliance with ARM 17.8.308. Jim and I were given a tour of the facility by Plant Manager Marc Kaufman. The plant was operating at full capacity during our inspection, and no fugitive emissions were visible from either baghouse cyclone. No accumulation of fugitive sawdust was found on the grounds. Upon inspection of Fox Lumber's fencing project earlier this Spring, I believed they were now in compliance with ARM 17.8.308. This inspection confirms the results of my 6/13/03 inspection, that is, Fox Lumber is now in compliance with ARM 17.8.308. Although these inspections do not ensure compliance in the future, they do indicate Fox Lumber has addressed its fugitive sawdust problem. MEMORANDUM Date: August 15, 2003 From: Russell Boschee, YCAPC Director To: YCPAC Board Members Subject: Fox Lumber TIMELINE--FOX LUMBER 6/18/2002 1. Mr. Alheim's letter to Mr. Recht stating although a bin system had been installed a cap on the hopper system was missing. Mr. Alheim gave Fox Lumber 15 days to install cap and remove excess sawdust from the property. 6/20/02 2. Mr. Recht's response stating he completed projects. 6/27/02 3. Mr. Steven's letter to Mr. Alheim stating Mr. Boschee and he had investigated a complaint at Fox Lumber stating the hopper system had overflowed. We said Fox Lumber must monitor more closely its hopper system. 7/29/02 4. Mr. Alheim's letter to Mr. Recht stating he needed to monitor the hopper system better in response to Mr. Steven's June 27th letter. 9/4/02 5. Mr. Fichtner called to ask ifI was handling Fox Lumber sawdust complaint. I officially took over enforcement on this case. 9/12/02 6. Mr. Boschee's letter to Mr. Stevens concerning FoX Lumber's operations. Manufacturing plant #1 was operating with a negative pressure sawdust containment system. Manufacturing plant #2 was operating with few controls, and it had been in operation about two months. They were told the manufacturing plant #2 containment system was inadequate. They asked and were granted a 90 day variance to upgrade the manufacturing plant #2 containment system. 11/6/02 7. Director Boschee's File Note stating he did an investigation on November 6th to see if Fox Lumber had completed its upgrade to manufacturing Plant #2 sawdust containment system. Mr. Kaufman, Plant Manager, said manufacturing Plant//2 was no longer in service. He said Fox Lumber would be installing a cyclone baghouse to the hopper system with negative pressure to replace old conveyor system. 11/12/02 8. YCAPC Board met with Commissioner Bill Kennedy and Mr. Leonard Fichtner concerning Fox Lumber at our regularly scheduled Board meeting; an enforccnnent action on ARM 17.8.308 was discussed. 12/18/02 9. Director Boschee's File Note stating I drove by Fox Lumber on December 10th, and the cyclone baghouse and duct work were operational. On December 18th, Commissioner Kennedy and I toured the facility to see how the sawdust containment system operated. 1/28/03 10. Director Boschee's memo to Commissioner Kennedy stating my desire to meet with Commissioner Kennedy to discuss Fox Lumber. 1/28/03 11. Director Boschee's File Note stating he observed a truck being loaded from the hopper system. There was some fugitive sawdust present; Mr. Kaufman stated the hopper system malfunctioned on 1/8/03 causing sawdust to be dumped on the property which he was still cleaning up. 2/12/03 12. Mr. Boschee's letter to Mr. Fox stating Fox Lumber had 60 days to erect a permanent barrier on the south side of said property. 2/21/03 13. Mr. Fichtner complaint about fugitive dust escaping from hopper system. 1 talked with Mr. Kaufinm~ about his need to ensure the tracks are there in a prompt manner. 3/13/03 14. Mr. Fichtner complaint about fugitive dust escaping from hopper system. I told Mr. Kaufman must address this problem immediately. 6/13/03 15. Mr. Boschee's letter to Mr. Alheim stating the fencing project has been completed. I asked if Mr. Jim Hughes, local DEQ Air Quality Specialist, could accompany me to determine if Fox Lumber was in compliance with ARM 17.8.308. 8/I/03 16. Mr. Hughes' inspection report stating Fox Lumber~was in compliance with ARM 17.8.308, and Director Boschee's File Note confirming the results of Mr. Hughes's inspection report.