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PASO DE LOS TOROS, Uruguay , Sept. 3, 2020 (Press Release) -While construction of its second pulp mill in Uruguay goes on at full speed, UPM is hard at work addressing concerns associated with such large-scale projects, including community safety, housing and infrastructure, and safeguarding the environment.

Construction is well underway for UPM’s second pulp plant in Uruguay. The three-year project began following an investment decision in July 2019 and will be completed in 2022. The associated construction projects in central Uruguay and Montevideo now consist of 16 building sites, meaning the new mill is already boosting the local economy and regional development. This is also allowing for the creation of new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

UPM is investing USD 3 billion into the construction of the mill, in the province’s infrastructure and a pulp terminal at the port of Montevideo. Among the many improvements related to the project will be the construction of new rail lines connecting Durazno with the port of Montevideo. Once the mill is fully operational, the mill together with the entire value chain including forestry, wood sourcing and logistics operations is estimated to contribute about 2 percent of Uruguay's GDP.

The new pulp mill will also create about 10,000 new jobs throughout the country, contributing USD 170 million annually in tax revenue and social security payments. But while the economic benefits of the new project are clear, they do create visible changes in the region.

The impacts of a mega project

Increased traffic and accommodating the 6,000-person workforce are among the two biggest concerns around the project for the local population identified in the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of the new pulp mill carried out by UPM. However, Magdalena Ibañez, UPM Uruguay’s Community Development Manager, says the company has implemented mitigation plans in cooperation with local and national authorities, as well as expert organisations.

In order to prevent the influx of full-time construction workers from overwhelming any single location, UPM has arranged for permanent and temporary housing construction in four different localities.

Paso de los Toros will host 2,600 workers, with neighbouring Pueblo Centenario housing 1,000. Roughly 30 kilometres south of the construction site, Carlos Reyles will be home to around 400 workers and Durazno will host another 1,200 workers. Additionally, the localities will benefit from the infrastructure done for the temporary housing plus 60 permanent houses.

“We have implemented a housing plan, which includes permanent houses that will be built and later be left in the community for the state to make use of,” says Ibañez.

“There are also temporary accommodations, which are placed as the workers arrive and removed after they leave,” she adds. “What will remain for the Uruguayan state will be the associated infrastructure for these temporary homes, including electricity and sanitation.”

Ibañez said that UPM was also working with the local government to prevent traffic associated with the project from saturating the region’s roads. A new transportation service has been created for the transfer of workers to and from the construction site. Each location will have the necessary amount of buses to transport all the workers considering the shifts and characteristics of each boarding point.

“Where the workers are going to be accommodated, there are different bus terminals and then there are stops that have been set up together with the state and local authorities,” says Ibañez. “Most of the workers are using this service to go to work.”

Keeping the community safe

While the additional traffic has been minimised, UPM recognises that the increase still comes with new road safety challenges. As a result, UPM is working with the NGO Desem Junior Achievement to offer road safety talks in local schools and the Automobile Club of Uruguay, a non-profit, to host further traffic safety events.

However, road safety is not the only component of local safety that is of concern to UPM: concerns over sexual exploitation, which is a risk typically associated with large-scale construction projects worldwide, have been brought up by the community.

“At some point, UPM heard that call from the community and went out to look for one of the NGO civil associations that have been working strongly on the subject,” says Natalia Guidobono, a sociologist at El Paso and the coordinator of UPM’s project for the prevention of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.

To tackle this thorny issue, UPM has agreed to fund the first part of a two-pronged campaign, aimed at informing the workforce about the harm that these types of illicit activities inflict on a local community as well as educating members of the community on how to identify and prevent sexual exploitation.

“I believe that UPM, like any company that is set up, is going to generate a series of impacts at the community level,” says Guidobono. “Therefore, they have an important role in being able to prevent sexual exploitation and be attentive to other possible side effects of their presence.

“We understand our operations from a comprehensive perspective, including a responsible commitment to local communities. We are on a path of joint work and dialogue with local organisations and leaders to find the most appropriate ways to mitigate the potential impacts of the construction of the pulp mill,” says Ibáñez.

Protecting the environment

Along with safety for the community, protecting the environment is another issue for the local population and Uruguayans at large. However, UPM has learned from previous projects and has a plan to mitigate that as well. As part of the permit process, UPM has submitted an environmental impact assessment required by the Uruguayan authorities.

The mill is designed to fully meet strict Uruguayan environmental regulations as well as international standards and recommendations for modern mills, including the use of the latest and best available proven technology (BAT). The effectiveness of these measures will be closely watched and, similar to what is practised at the UPM Fray Bentos plant, the new mill’s environmental performance will be verified with comprehensive and transparent online monitoring.

The company has already committed to participating in Uruguayan government’s Rio Negro initiative, providing $1.5 million a year for the next 20 years and providing technical help in order to assist with the initiative and keep the local environment clean.

Additionally, Bruce Rodgers, a consultant at Ecometrix who helped advise UPM during the planning phase, expects the environmental impacts to be minimal. He partially attributed this to the exceedingly high environmental standards set by the Uruguayan government.

“UPM will construct a wastewater treatment plant that uses the best available technology,” says Rodgers. “In other words, they will build a spectacular treatment system. It will treat the waste materials and produce a very high-quality effluent that will conform to the high standards that Uruguay has set for the mill.”

UPM addresses concerns with large-scale projects including safety, housing, infrastructure, and safeguarding environment as Uruguay construction underway

Posted in: Mills 09/03/2020 - 11:56

PASO DE LOS TOROS, Uruguay , Sept. 3, 2020 (Press Release) -While construction of its second pulp mill in Uruguay goes on at full speed, UPM is hard at work addressing concerns associated with such large-scale projects, including community safety, housing and infrastructure, and safeguarding the environment.

Construction is well underway for UPM’s second pulp plant in Uruguay. The three-year project began following an investment decision in July 2019 and will be completed in 2022. The associated construction projects in central Uruguay and Montevideo now consist of 16 building sites, meaning the new mill is already boosting the local economy and regional development. This is also allowing for the creation of new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

UPM is investing USD 3 billion into the construction of the mill, in the province’s infrastructure and a pulp terminal at the port of Montevideo. Among the many improvements related to the project will be the construction of new rail lines connecting Durazno with the port of Montevideo. Once the mill is fully operational, the mill together with the entire value chain including forestry, wood sourcing and logistics operations is estimated to contribute about 2 percent of Uruguay's GDP.

The new pulp mill will also create about 10,000 new jobs throughout the country, contributing USD 170 million annually in tax revenue and social security payments. But while the economic benefits of the new project are clear, they do create visible changes in the region.

The impacts of a mega project

Increased traffic and accommodating the 6,000-person workforce are among the two biggest concerns around the project for the local population identified in the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of the new pulp mill carried out by UPM. However, Magdalena Ibañez, UPM Uruguay’s Community Development Manager, says the company has implemented mitigation plans in cooperation with local and national authorities, as well as expert organisations.

In order to prevent the influx of full-time construction workers from overwhelming any single location, UPM has arranged for permanent and temporary housing construction in four different localities.

Paso de los Toros will host 2,600 workers, with neighbouring Pueblo Centenario housing 1,000. Roughly 30 kilometres south of the construction site, Carlos Reyles will be home to around 400 workers and Durazno will host another 1,200 workers. Additionally, the localities will benefit from the infrastructure done for the temporary housing plus 60 permanent houses.

“We have implemented a housing plan, which includes permanent houses that will be built and later be left in the community for the state to make use of,” says Ibañez.

“There are also temporary accommodations, which are placed as the workers arrive and removed after they leave,” she adds. “What will remain for the Uruguayan state will be the associated infrastructure for these temporary homes, including electricity and sanitation.”

Ibañez said that UPM was also working with the local government to prevent traffic associated with the project from saturating the region’s roads. A new transportation service has been created for the transfer of workers to and from the construction site. Each location will have the necessary amount of buses to transport all the workers considering the shifts and characteristics of each boarding point.

“Where the workers are going to be accommodated, there are different bus terminals and then there are stops that have been set up together with the state and local authorities,” says Ibañez. “Most of the workers are using this service to go to work.”

Keeping the community safe

While the additional traffic has been minimised, UPM recognises that the increase still comes with new road safety challenges. As a result, UPM is working with the NGO Desem Junior Achievement to offer road safety talks in local schools and the Automobile Club of Uruguay, a non-profit, to host further traffic safety events.

However, road safety is not the only component of local safety that is of concern to UPM: concerns over sexual exploitation, which is a risk typically associated with large-scale construction projects worldwide, have been brought up by the community.

“At some point, UPM heard that call from the community and went out to look for one of the NGO civil associations that have been working strongly on the subject,” says Natalia Guidobono, a sociologist at El Paso and the coordinator of UPM’s project for the prevention of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.

To tackle this thorny issue, UPM has agreed to fund the first part of a two-pronged campaign, aimed at informing the workforce about the harm that these types of illicit activities inflict on a local community as well as educating members of the community on how to identify and prevent sexual exploitation.

“I believe that UPM, like any company that is set up, is going to generate a series of impacts at the community level,” says Guidobono. “Therefore, they have an important role in being able to prevent sexual exploitation and be attentive to other possible side effects of their presence.

“We understand our operations from a comprehensive perspective, including a responsible commitment to local communities. We are on a path of joint work and dialogue with local organisations and leaders to find the most appropriate ways to mitigate the potential impacts of the construction of the pulp mill,” says Ibáñez.

Protecting the environment

Along with safety for the community, protecting the environment is another issue for the local population and Uruguayans at large. However, UPM has learned from previous projects and has a plan to mitigate that as well. As part of the permit process, UPM has submitted an environmental impact assessment required by the Uruguayan authorities.

The mill is designed to fully meet strict Uruguayan environmental regulations as well as international standards and recommendations for modern mills, including the use of the latest and best available proven technology (BAT). The effectiveness of these measures will be closely watched and, similar to what is practised at the UPM Fray Bentos plant, the new mill’s environmental performance will be verified with comprehensive and transparent online monitoring.

The company has already committed to participating in Uruguayan government’s Rio Negro initiative, providing $1.5 million a year for the next 20 years and providing technical help in order to assist with the initiative and keep the local environment clean.

Additionally, Bruce Rodgers, a consultant at Ecometrix who helped advise UPM during the planning phase, expects the environmental impacts to be minimal. He partially attributed this to the exceedingly high environmental standards set by the Uruguayan government.

“UPM will construct a wastewater treatment plant that uses the best available technology,” says Rodgers. “In other words, they will build a spectacular treatment system. It will treat the waste materials and produce a very high-quality effluent that will conform to the high standards that Uruguay has set for the mill.”

PASO DE LOS TOROS, Uruguay , Sept. 3, 2020 (Press Release) -While construction of its second pulp mill in Uruguay goes on at full speed, UPM is hard at work addressing concerns associated with such large-scale projects, including community safety, housing and infrastructure, and safeguarding the environment.

Construction is well underway for UPM’s second pulp plant in Uruguay. The three-year project began following an investment decision in July 2019 and will be completed in 2022. The associated construction projects in central Uruguay and Montevideo now consist of 16 building sites, meaning the new mill is already boosting the local economy and regional development. This is also allowing for the creation of new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

UPM is investing USD 3 billion into the construction of the mill, in the province’s infrastructure and a pulp terminal at the port of Montevideo. Among the many improvements related to the project will be the construction of new rail lines connecting Durazno with the port of Montevideo. Once the mill is fully operational, the mill together with the entire value chain including forestry, wood sourcing and logistics operations is estimated to contribute about 2 percent of Uruguay's GDP.

The new pulp mill will also create about 10,000 new jobs throughout the country, contributing USD 170 million annually in tax revenue and social security payments. But while the economic benefits of the new project are clear, they do create visible changes in the region.

The impacts of a mega project

Increased traffic and accommodating the 6,000-person workforce are among the two biggest concerns around the project for the local population identified in the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of the new pulp mill carried out by UPM. However, Magdalena Ibañez, UPM Uruguay’s Community Development Manager, says the company has implemented mitigation plans in cooperation with local and national authorities, as well as expert organisations.

In order to prevent the influx of full-time construction workers from overwhelming any single location, UPM has arranged for permanent and temporary housing construction in four different localities.

Paso de los Toros will host 2,600 workers, with neighbouring Pueblo Centenario housing 1,000. Roughly 30 kilometres south of the construction site, Carlos Reyles will be home to around 400 workers and Durazno will host another 1,200 workers. Additionally, the localities will benefit from the infrastructure done for the temporary housing plus 60 permanent houses.

“We have implemented a housing plan, which includes permanent houses that will be built and later be left in the community for the state to make use of,” says Ibañez.

“There are also temporary accommodations, which are placed as the workers arrive and removed after they leave,” she adds. “What will remain for the Uruguayan state will be the associated infrastructure for these temporary homes, including electricity and sanitation.”

Ibañez said that UPM was also working with the local government to prevent traffic associated with the project from saturating the region’s roads. A new transportation service has been created for the transfer of workers to and from the construction site. Each location will have the necessary amount of buses to transport all the workers considering the shifts and characteristics of each boarding point.

“Where the workers are going to be accommodated, there are different bus terminals and then there are stops that have been set up together with the state and local authorities,” says Ibañez. “Most of the workers are using this service to go to work.”

Keeping the community safe

While the additional traffic has been minimised, UPM recognises that the increase still comes with new road safety challenges. As a result, UPM is working with the NGO Desem Junior Achievement to offer road safety talks in local schools and the Automobile Club of Uruguay, a non-profit, to host further traffic safety events.

However, road safety is not the only component of local safety that is of concern to UPM: concerns over sexual exploitation, which is a risk typically associated with large-scale construction projects worldwide, have been brought up by the community.

“At some point, UPM heard that call from the community and went out to look for one of the NGO civil associations that have been working strongly on the subject,” says Natalia Guidobono, a sociologist at El Paso and the coordinator of UPM’s project for the prevention of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.

To tackle this thorny issue, UPM has agreed to fund the first part of a two-pronged campaign, aimed at informing the workforce about the harm that these types of illicit activities inflict on a local community as well as educating members of the community on how to identify and prevent sexual exploitation.

“I believe that UPM, like any company that is set up, is going to generate a series of impacts at the community level,” says Guidobono. “Therefore, they have an important role in being able to prevent sexual exploitation and be attentive to other possible side effects of their presence.

“We understand our operations from a comprehensive perspective, including a responsible commitment to local communities. We are on a path of joint work and dialogue with local organisations and leaders to find the most appropriate ways to mitigate the potential impacts of the construction of the pulp mill,” says Ibáñez.

Protecting the environment

Along with safety for the community, protecting the environment is another issue for the local population and Uruguayans at large. However, UPM has learned from previous projects and has a plan to mitigate that as well. As part of the permit process, UPM has submitted an environmental impact assessment required by the Uruguayan authorities.

The mill is designed to fully meet strict Uruguayan environmental regulations as well as international standards and recommendations for modern mills, including the use of the latest and best available proven technology (BAT). The effectiveness of these measures will be closely watched and, similar to what is practised at the UPM Fray Bentos plant, the new mill’s environmental performance will be verified with comprehensive and transparent online monitoring.

The company has already committed to participating in Uruguayan government’s Rio Negro initiative, providing $1.5 million a year for the next 20 years and providing technical help in order to assist with the initiative and keep the local environment clean.

Additionally, Bruce Rodgers, a consultant at Ecometrix who helped advise UPM during the planning phase, expects the environmental impacts to be minimal. He partially attributed this to the exceedingly high environmental standards set by the Uruguayan government.

“UPM will construct a wastewater treatment plant that uses the best available technology,” says Rodgers. “In other words, they will build a spectacular treatment system. It will treat the waste materials and produce a very high-quality effluent that will conform to the high standards that Uruguay has set for the mill.”

UPM addresses concerns with large-scale projects including safety, housing, infrastructure, and safeguarding environment as Uruguay construction underway

Posted in: Environment 09/03/2020 - 11:56

PASO DE LOS TOROS, Uruguay , Sept. 3, 2020 (Press Release) -While construction of its second pulp mill in Uruguay goes on at full speed, UPM is hard at work addressing concerns associated with such large-scale projects, including community safety, housing and infrastructure, and safeguarding the environment.

Construction is well underway for UPM’s second pulp plant in Uruguay. The three-year project began following an investment decision in July 2019 and will be completed in 2022. The associated construction projects in central Uruguay and Montevideo now consist of 16 building sites, meaning the new mill is already boosting the local economy and regional development. This is also allowing for the creation of new opportunities for individuals and businesses.

UPM is investing USD 3 billion into the construction of the mill, in the province’s infrastructure and a pulp terminal at the port of Montevideo. Among the many improvements related to the project will be the construction of new rail lines connecting Durazno with the port of Montevideo. Once the mill is fully operational, the mill together with the entire value chain including forestry, wood sourcing and logistics operations is estimated to contribute about 2 percent of Uruguay's GDP.

The new pulp mill will also create about 10,000 new jobs throughout the country, contributing USD 170 million annually in tax revenue and social security payments. But while the economic benefits of the new project are clear, they do create visible changes in the region.

The impacts of a mega project

Increased traffic and accommodating the 6,000-person workforce are among the two biggest concerns around the project for the local population identified in the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of the new pulp mill carried out by UPM. However, Magdalena Ibañez, UPM Uruguay’s Community Development Manager, says the company has implemented mitigation plans in cooperation with local and national authorities, as well as expert organisations.

In order to prevent the influx of full-time construction workers from overwhelming any single location, UPM has arranged for permanent and temporary housing construction in four different localities.

Paso de los Toros will host 2,600 workers, with neighbouring Pueblo Centenario housing 1,000. Roughly 30 kilometres south of the construction site, Carlos Reyles will be home to around 400 workers and Durazno will host another 1,200 workers. Additionally, the localities will benefit from the infrastructure done for the temporary housing plus 60 permanent houses.

“We have implemented a housing plan, which includes permanent houses that will be built and later be left in the community for the state to make use of,” says Ibañez.

“There are also temporary accommodations, which are placed as the workers arrive and removed after they leave,” she adds. “What will remain for the Uruguayan state will be the associated infrastructure for these temporary homes, including electricity and sanitation.”

Ibañez said that UPM was also working with the local government to prevent traffic associated with the project from saturating the region’s roads. A new transportation service has been created for the transfer of workers to and from the construction site. Each location will have the necessary amount of buses to transport all the workers considering the shifts and characteristics of each boarding point.

“Where the workers are going to be accommodated, there are different bus terminals and then there are stops that have been set up together with the state and local authorities,” says Ibañez. “Most of the workers are using this service to go to work.”

Keeping the community safe

While the additional traffic has been minimised, UPM recognises that the increase still comes with new road safety challenges. As a result, UPM is working with the NGO Desem Junior Achievement to offer road safety talks in local schools and the Automobile Club of Uruguay, a non-profit, to host further traffic safety events.

However, road safety is not the only component of local safety that is of concern to UPM: concerns over sexual exploitation, which is a risk typically associated with large-scale construction projects worldwide, have been brought up by the community.

“At some point, UPM heard that call from the community and went out to look for one of the NGO civil associations that have been working strongly on the subject,” says Natalia Guidobono, a sociologist at El Paso and the coordinator of UPM’s project for the prevention of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.

To tackle this thorny issue, UPM has agreed to fund the first part of a two-pronged campaign, aimed at informing the workforce about the harm that these types of illicit activities inflict on a local community as well as educating members of the community on how to identify and prevent sexual exploitation.

“I believe that UPM, like any company that is set up, is going to generate a series of impacts at the community level,” says Guidobono. “Therefore, they have an important role in being able to prevent sexual exploitation and be attentive to other possible side effects of their presence.

“We understand our operations from a comprehensive perspective, including a responsible commitment to local communities. We are on a path of joint work and dialogue with local organisations and leaders to find the most appropriate ways to mitigate the potential impacts of the construction of the pulp mill,” says Ibáñez.

Protecting the environment

Along with safety for the community, protecting the environment is another issue for the local population and Uruguayans at large. However, UPM has learned from previous projects and has a plan to mitigate that as well. As part of the permit process, UPM has submitted an environmental impact assessment required by the Uruguayan authorities.

The mill is designed to fully meet strict Uruguayan environmental regulations as well as international standards and recommendations for modern mills, including the use of the latest and best available proven technology (BAT). The effectiveness of these measures will be closely watched and, similar to what is practised at the UPM Fray Bentos plant, the new mill’s environmental performance will be verified with comprehensive and transparent online monitoring.

The company has already committed to participating in Uruguayan government’s Rio Negro initiative, providing $1.5 million a year for the next 20 years and providing technical help in order to assist with the initiative and keep the local environment clean.

Additionally, Bruce Rodgers, a consultant at Ecometrix who helped advise UPM during the planning phase, expects the environmental impacts to be minimal. He partially attributed this to the exceedingly high environmental standards set by the Uruguayan government.

“UPM will construct a wastewater treatment plant that uses the best available technology,” says Rodgers. “In other words, they will build a spectacular treatment system. It will treat the waste materials and produce a very high-quality effluent that will conform to the high standards that Uruguay has set for the mill.”

ECLEPENS, Switzerland, Sept. 2, 2020 (Press Release) -The 200th BTG Single Point Kappa Analyzer (SPK) was supplied to the Oji Group, one of the leading manufacturers of paper and paperboard in the world, headquartered in Japan. Oji was among the early adopters of the SPK, and this latest order for Oji Materia in Japan is a key element in replacing an existing multi-point kappa analyzer system.

The BTG Single Point Kappa offers the unique capability to measure kappa number directly at the installation point, rather than in a lab or through a traditional centralized analyzer. This allows a higher frequency of analyses and no need to have a dedicated sample line. SPK facilitates improved process control and operational stability in the fiberline.

The first version of SPK was released in 2014, as a breakthrough innovation for Kappa control. The unit has been improved for higher Kappa applications, enhanced reliability and its capability extended to Hexuronic acid measurement.

SPK is a key part of an integrated solution, optimizing the overall pulp quality and cost in the fiberline, including connection to advanced process controls and remote accessibility.

BTG Group is a multinational provider of integrated, highly specialized process solutions for the global pulp and paper industry. BTG is committed to helping its customers achieve significant, sustainable gains in business performance.

BTG supplies its 200th Single Point Kappa Analyzer to Oji Group

Posted in: Mills 09/02/2020 - 05:26

ECLEPENS, Switzerland, Sept. 2, 2020 (Press Release) -The 200th BTG Single Point Kappa Analyzer (SPK) was supplied to the Oji Group, one of the leading manufacturers of paper and paperboard in the world, headquartered in Japan. Oji was among the early adopters of the SPK, and this latest order for Oji Materia in Japan is a key element in replacing an existing multi-point kappa analyzer system.

The BTG Single Point Kappa offers the unique capability to measure kappa number directly at the installation point, rather than in a lab or through a traditional centralized analyzer. This allows a higher frequency of analyses and no need to have a dedicated sample line. SPK facilitates improved process control and operational stability in the fiberline.

The first version of SPK was released in 2014, as a breakthrough innovation for Kappa control. The unit has been improved for higher Kappa applications, enhanced reliability and its capability extended to Hexuronic acid measurement.

SPK is a key part of an integrated solution, optimizing the overall pulp quality and cost in the fiberline, including connection to advanced process controls and remote accessibility.

BTG Group is a multinational provider of integrated, highly specialized process solutions for the global pulp and paper industry. BTG is committed to helping its customers achieve significant, sustainable gains in business performance.

GLADSTONE, MI, Aug. 26, 2020 (Upper Michigans Source ) -Officials with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said a recent fish kill along the southern reaches of the Escanaba River at Gladstone was the result of a pipe failure at Verso Corporation’s Escanaba Paper Mill.

“We have been sampling and monitoring the river at numerous points since this incident occurred,” said Tom Asmus, who monitors compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program for EGLE in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Under the Clean Water Act, the program controls point source discharges of pollutants to waters of the U.S. “All indications are that the environmental conditions in the river have recovered.”

The fish kill, which affected at least a dozen species, was reported Sunday Aug. 9 to EGLE and Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel, who responded the following day.

Upper Michigans Source - Delta County fish kill blamed on ‘black liquor’ from paper mill

Fastmarkets RISI is not responsible for the reliability or availability of content on external websites.

Michigan fish kill blamed on ‘black liquor’ from Verso paper mill

Posted in: Environment 08/26/2020 - 20:46

GLADSTONE, MI, Aug. 26, 2020 (Upper Michigans Source ) -Officials with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said a recent fish kill along the southern reaches of the Escanaba River at Gladstone was the result of a pipe failure at Verso Corporation’s Escanaba Paper Mill.

“We have been sampling and monitoring the river at numerous points since this incident occurred,” said Tom Asmus, who monitors compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program for EGLE in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Under the Clean Water Act, the program controls point source discharges of pollutants to waters of the U.S. “All indications are that the environmental conditions in the river have recovered.”

The fish kill, which affected at least a dozen species, was reported Sunday Aug. 9 to EGLE and Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel, who responded the following day.

Upper Michigans Source - Delta County fish kill blamed on ‘black liquor’ from paper mill

Fastmarkets RISI is not responsible for the reliability or availability of content on external websites.

FORT MILL, SC, Aug. 24, 2020 (Business Wire) -Domtar has successfully completed a surveillance audit on the Wabigoon Forest for the new Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) National Standard for Canada. The audit took place the week of July 13th ending with the auditor’s recommendation for certification to be maintained under the new Canadian standard. This new standard replaced the previous FSC Boreal standard and has set the bar high for demonstrating sustainable forest management. The Wabigoon Forest was first certified to the FSC standard in 2008.

“Our on-the-ground management practices, coupled with a rigorous provincially mandated forest management planning process, helps to hit the mark with FSC,” said Marie Cyr, general manager of the Dryden pulp mill. “We are proud of our record of sustainable forest management. The fact that the Dryden mill has been operating in this forest area for over 100 years demonstrates that we are managing our forests sustainably.”

The new FSC National Standard for Canada requires a comprehensive audit of legal compliance, protection of high conservation values, environmental impacts, management planning and community relations including free prior and informed consent. The audit process, which is designed to identify opportunities for improvement, found 4 minor non-conformance issues, all of which have been addressed with action plans and approved by the auditing body.

“The success of this audit demonstrates progress towards our sustainability goals,” said Paige Goff, vice president of sustainability. “Independent third party forest certification like FSC is important to our customers and reflects our commitment to sustainability.”

Domtar is also licensed to manage the Trout Lake forest in Ontario which is on target to undergo an FSC pre-assessment audit later this year.

About Domtar

Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 9,200 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.2 billion and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Domtar completes surveillance audit and receives FSC certification for its Wabigoon forest in Canada

Posted in: Environment 08/24/2020 - 12:04

FORT MILL, SC, Aug. 24, 2020 (Business Wire) -Domtar has successfully completed a surveillance audit on the Wabigoon Forest for the new Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) National Standard for Canada. The audit took place the week of July 13th ending with the auditor’s recommendation for certification to be maintained under the new Canadian standard. This new standard replaced the previous FSC Boreal standard and has set the bar high for demonstrating sustainable forest management. The Wabigoon Forest was first certified to the FSC standard in 2008.

“Our on-the-ground management practices, coupled with a rigorous provincially mandated forest management planning process, helps to hit the mark with FSC,” said Marie Cyr, general manager of the Dryden pulp mill. “We are proud of our record of sustainable forest management. The fact that the Dryden mill has been operating in this forest area for over 100 years demonstrates that we are managing our forests sustainably.”

The new FSC National Standard for Canada requires a comprehensive audit of legal compliance, protection of high conservation values, environmental impacts, management planning and community relations including free prior and informed consent. The audit process, which is designed to identify opportunities for improvement, found 4 minor non-conformance issues, all of which have been addressed with action plans and approved by the auditing body.

“The success of this audit demonstrates progress towards our sustainability goals,” said Paige Goff, vice president of sustainability. “Independent third party forest certification like FSC is important to our customers and reflects our commitment to sustainability.”

Domtar is also licensed to manage the Trout Lake forest in Ontario which is on target to undergo an FSC pre-assessment audit later this year.

About Domtar

Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 9,200 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.2 billion and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

WILMINGTON, DE, Aug. 19, 2020 (Press Release) -Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, is working with a North American tissue maker to deliver continuous process improvement with autonomous chemistry control through its secure OPTIX™ Applied Intelligence artificial intelligence (AI) platform.

Developed with ProcessMiner™, a leading AI platform, Solenis’ adaptive analytics system accurately learns complex variable relationships in pulp and paper manufacturing processes and yields a digital measure of product quality. Autonomous manufacturing using AI with machine learning allows for improved product quality, optimized use of raw materials and reduced water and energy consumption.

Deployed at St. Croix Tissue in Baileyville, Maine, OPTIX recently enabled the mill to accomplish something that was previously impossible. Using a closed-loop controller in conjunction with OPTIX quality parameter predictions, the mill was able to control its strength chemistry autonomously to ensure optimal chemical feed and adhere to target parameters.

“OPTIX has shown that it can reasonably predict different lab-tested parameters,” said Devin Rose, technical manager at St. Croix Tissue. “We’ve used this prediction in a closed-loop controller and successfully reduced variation in the final product. As a result, we’re excited about the value of this program.”

Launched by Solenis in early 2019, the novel OPTIX platform is operational in nine paper mills throughout North America and Europe, with additional deployments in progress. AI-powered predictive analytics of key quality parameters allows for on-the-fly process improvement, real-time process insights and continuous chemical control leading to improved target adherence, improved product quality and substantial cost savings.

COVID-19 is accelerating the need for autonomous manufacturing as operators seek to improve operational efficiency without making significant cap-ex investments and limiting human interaction. As a result, there has been mounting interest in the OPTIX platform, which enables the application of autonomous control to extend well beyond strength chemistry.

“Solenis continues to deliver innovative solutions that solve the complex problems that exist in the pulp and paper industry,” said Andreas Türk, president, Eurasia, Solenis. “Our partnership with ProcessMiner enables us to uniquely deliver the cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technology required for real-time, predictive analytics and autonomous manufacturing. Our latest OPTIX offering, autonomous chemistry optimization, is another example of Solenis delivering the value our customers need to stay competitive.”

“Solenis has been the ideal partner for driving autonomous manufacturing in the pulp and paper industry, leveraging the technology we’ve developed,” said Karim Pourak, cofounder and CEO, ProcessMiner. “The deep domain expertise the Solenis team brings, coupled with our industry-leading data science team, has been a winning combination. We expect rapid adoption and mill expansion of the OPTIX platform in this industry as a result of our recent autonomous control success at St. Croix Tissue. With a shrinking workforce in manufacturing, AI is an investment that manufacturers need to consider in keeping up with demand and product quality service levels.”

For more details on OPTIX Applied Intelligence, please visit solenis.com/OPTIX.

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, paper, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power and municipal markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of process, functional and water treatment chemistries as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and minimize environmental impact. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 39 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of approximately 5,200 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com.

About ProcessMiner

The ProcessMiner™ platform predicts problems in real-time using AI within the manufacturing process. The platform is being rapidly adopted by the tissue and packaging industries, inclusive of manufacturers in the pulp, paper and plastics industries, and pilot projects are underway with water treatment and energy sectors of manufacturing. Visit www.processminer.com.

Solenis enables St. Croix Tissue in Maine to achieve ‘unprecedented’ autonomous chemistry control with AI platform

Posted in: Chemicals 08/19/2020 - 20:11