International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, is reportedly five months into planning to refurbish its Bogalusa, La., containerboard mill's wastewater treatment plant. When finished, the refurbished plant will be IP's most efficient and state-of-the art wastewater treatment facilities, according to an article this week by the Picayune Item newspaper, Picayune, Miss.
This past May, IP, which acquired the 106-year-old mill from Temple-Inland in February, announced that it would be investing $44 million to modernize and improve the mill's competitiveness by adding new equipment and technology. The mill has 400-plus employees.
According to the Picayune Item article, the new treatment plant at the Bogalusa mill will cost IP an estimated $30 million dollars. Dr. Mike Steltenkamp (on left in photo), mill environmental, health and safety manager, stated in the article that "to say it will be one of the best in company is saying a lot because IP has plants all over the world — in Asia, Europe, and North and South America."
Steltenkamp said that when IP bought the plant from Temple-Inland, the company was handed a plan, but IP officials wanted to revise it and submit a better plan to state officials.
Steltenkamp added that IP officials got permission to revamp the plan, and now, six months later, have submitted plans to both the Louisiana and Mississippi Departments of Environmental Quality, and as soon as they get approval from both agencies, will begin construction on what will be one of a state-of-the-art, and one of the best, wastewater treatment facilities in the world.
Modifications to the mill's wastewater treatment system will be "major," Steltenkamp continued. "There is a lot of redundancy in our new plans." He said the new system will "compartmentalize" waste, mainly solids, and while one portion of the plant can be shut down, the other part will remain up and running. That was not possible under the old system, he said, noting that solids will also be removed at the "front end" of the facility.
"The benefits of this new plant will accumulate quickly, and people will actually see improvements as we get under construction with the facility," Steltenkamp explained. He added that company officials plan to meet with Louisiana and Mississippi officials in late August to get approval and begin work.
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