Why did it take Georgia-Pacific so long to reach an agreement on its wastewater permit with Florida DEP?
The agreement was reached after Florida DEP and a technical team from EPA thoroughly reviewed current mill operations and environmental controls, and analyzed the company’s proposals for environmental improvements. We agreed to and participated in this review in order to fully address the issue of our discharge. This review was thorough, involving investigations of technologies and practices both here and abroad, and accordingly it took time to research and address each issue. All parties acted as quickly as possible given the complexity and uncertainties surrounding these issues. During these discussions Georgia-Pacific has not been idle, but rather, has moved forward with more than $100 million in environmental improvements. We traveled across the region seeking input from citizens regarding our planned improvements. We heard the public’s concerns and are pleased to commit to this package of improvements.
