Environmental Policy

Background

All MPPA member mills are either certified in the ISO 14001:2004 system or have implemented an Environmental Management System. As such, all mills have developed Policy Statements that subscribe to the following principles: Full Compliance with all applicable state and federal environmental regulations, Prevention and Minimization of Waste and Pollution and Continuous Improvement in all aspects of environmental management. These principles form the basis by which our members seek to minimize their impacts on the environment, maintain safe and healthy work places and seek to be leaders in environmental stewardship.

Using 1993 as our baseline for emissions comparison, our members have achieved the following pollution prevention results:

• Paper production has increased over this time period.
• Member mills have reduced their Greenhouse Gas Emissions by over 30%.
• Water discharges have declined by more than 40%.
• Member Kraft Pulp Mills have invested over $120 million on new bleaching technology to eliminate formation of dioxins in bleach plant filtrates.

Legislative Issues

MPPA will oppose most new environmental initiatives impacting mill operations that exceed corresponding strict federal standards. Maine has previously adopted numerous regulatory and policy requirements that exceed federal standards, putting Maine mills at a competitive disadvantage. Examples include dioxin monitoring, air emission reporting, oil spill reporting, hazardous and solid waste management, and beneficial reuse of construction debris and other process residues.

MPPA is very concerned that recently proposed air emission rules from the EPA will cripple the U.S. paper industry. The “Boiler MACT” rules would cost Maine mills in excess of $300 million, with limited environmental benefit.