Oregon wood treater returns to penta

saw the EPA declare the plant a Superfund site in 2000. PWP purchased the site out of bankruptcy court in 2002, with the provision that the EPA and Oregon DEQ protect it from liability associated with contamination caused by Taylor. In exchange, PWP would take over remediation and maintenance of the site and use CuNap, ACQ, borates and fire retardant, instead of penta, CCA, creosote and ACZA.

With the site's remediation complete and CuNap no longer available to treat wood transmission and distribution poles, the reintroduction of penta made sense to regulators and most of the community, based upon public comments.

According to EPA attorney Jennifer Byrne, "PWPO has been a very cooperative partner in EPA's implementation of the Superfund remedy at this site. Since 2002, PWPO has consistently performed its obligations under the original agreement, including inspection and maintenance of asphalt covers and operation and maintenance of the qroundwater extraction system."

tTl"t Mosr wtDELY usED PRESERVATIVE preservative for I the manufacture of wood utility poles has been approved for use at Pacific Wood Preserving of Oregon, Sheridan, Or.

The plant is reintroducing pentachlorophenol as part of its agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the U.S. and Oregon Departments of Justice. The preservative previously used at the plant, copper naphthenate, is no longer being manufactured, and a substitute was needed.

"We couldn't be more pleased" with the announcement, said Roland Mueller, general manager of production for Pacific Wood Preserving Cos. "This will mean job security for our existing employees and likely the addition of new jobs going forward."

PWPO employs approximately 50 full-time employees and anticipates hiring an additional l0 to 20 employees over the next two years. "PWPO will begin treating with Penta immediately," Mueller added.

Penta had been used at the facility by prior owner Taylor Lumber & Treating, which filed for bankruptcy and

EPA received more than 120 comments from the community supporting the plant's reintroduction of penta. The move was opposed by just one commenter-a Portland, Or., law firm that represented an anonymous client. EPA concluded that the use ofpenta at the site "will benefit both the State of Oregon and EPA through PWPO's performance of operation and maintenance activities that would otherwise have to be paid for by the governments."

DEQ also received overwhelmingly positive comments.

"This is a great example of government and business working together for the benefit of the taxpayers, employees, customers and community," said PWP's Mueller. As a result of the amended agreements, PWPO will be able to maintain, and hopefully grow, employment.

The Oregon facility treats primarily Douglas fir poles, servicing national and international markets. Customers are large investor-owned utilities, contractors for these utilities, municipalities and rural electric districts. It also manufactures treated lumber and timbers for sale in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.

Its parent company also owns wood treating facilities in Califomia, Nevada and Arizona, as well as a manufacturing plant in Texas.

Penta recently underwent EPA's periodic "data re-registration" process, which required updated toxicity, health and safety research. Penta is an EPA-registered pesticide.

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