Plum Creek responds

To the editor,

The Hungry Horse News Sept. 30 article on the Environmental Protection Agency's emissions report for Plum Creek's medium density fiberboard plant was balanced journalism regarding emissions from a large and important plant here in the Columbia Falls community. The article stated that this facility is required to meet federal emissions standards. Indeed, this is the case, not only for our MDF facility, but for all of Plum Creek's manufacturing units.

At Plum Creek, we manage all of our production facilities in an environmentally safe and responsible manner. This includes operating them in full compliance with all air and water discharge permits established and regulated by both the State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality and by the federal EPA. Further, as regulatory guidelines change, the company works diligently to adapt its processes to adhere to new guidelines and improve our performance.

For example, Plum Creek reduced total particulate emissions from our Flathead Valley mills by nearly half between 1992 and 2003. We accomplished this by continuing to improve the technology associated with our air scrubbers and air filtration systems.

When Plum Creek constructed its new MDF line in 2001, the company went beyond existing air quality requirements by installing a state-of-the-art biofilter to treat the exhaust stream. This innovative $5 million system reduces emissions by using bacteria to convert specific hydrocarbons into water and carbon dioxide.

And, when working with the state to renew our groundwater discharge permit, Plum Creek made improvements to our MDF plant's water containment system. This recently completed $1.3 million water recycling system makes the plant 100 percent self-contained by capturing and filtering all process and wash-down water, and then reusing this water in the plant's refining and air scrubbing systems.

Plum Creek employs 1,240 people in our eight Montana manufacturing plants to produce important products for customers nationwide. We're proud, not only of our record of compliance with air and water discharge permits, but also of our environmental performance and accomplishments with respect to each of these facilities.

Henry K. Ricklefs

Vice President

Manufactured Products

Plum Creek Manufacturing, Inc.