NEWS RELEASE
May 11, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Dan A. Nelson, ORCAA Public Information Officer, Ext. 111
Ocean Protein to Improve Odor Controls Under New Permit Issued Today
HOQUIAM - The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency issued a new permit to Ocean Protein, LLC, to construct and operate new odor control equipment at their fish processing facility here.
Richard A. Stedman, Executive Director of ORCAA, signed a Final Determination on the Notice of Construction today following weeks of review and public comment.
"We believe the measures being taken will substantially reduce the odors from this facility," Stedman said.
The facility filed the Notice to Construct (NOC) in order to address problems with existing odor control system. Ocean Protein could have continued operating under their existing permit, though they would have still been subject to fines for odor violations. Ocean Protein opened their fish-waste processing facility last year. Their one season of operation was marked by nearly constant complaints for neighbors about excessive odors. ORCAA logged more than 700 official complaints about the facility between March and August in 2005. As a result, 22 Notices of Violation were issued to the company.
To help ensure the odor problem was eliminated before the plant reopened during the 2006 fish season, ORCAA required Ocean Protein to hire an independent consultant to develop new odor control plans. Dr. Mike Ruby, the independent consultant hired by Ocean Protein, designed the new odor control system detailed in the new permit just issued by ORCAA. Ruby is well respected and trusted internationally as an impartial expert by both business and government leaders.
The new system he recommended for Ocean Protein is the result of a rigorous design process. It relies on technologies and processes that have been used effectively at other facilities for years. One of the terms of the new permit require that the newly installed odor control equipment be rigorously tested before the facility accepts any fish products for processing.
ORCAA held a well-attended public hearing on the new permit application in Hoquiam in late April, and accepted written public comment for 30 days leading up to that hearing. All public comments were thoroughly researched and addressed prior to making the final determination to grant the permit.
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The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency protects and enhances air quality for citizens in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific counties by enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations. If you have questions specific to the topic above, or just general questions about local air quality, contact ORCAA at (360) 586-1044 or 1-800-422-5623, or visit ORCAA's website, www.orcaa.org.