AWC: Proposed PCWP Rule Recognizes Investments in Emission Reductions

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President & CEO Robert Glowinski issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of the Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP) Risk and Technology Review (RTR) proposal.

“Over the last 15 years, the wood products industry installed expensive control technologies to comply with the 2004 PCWP Maximum Achievable Control Technology [MACT] regulations and saw over 90 percent emissions reductions from regulated wood presses and dryers. EPA has now reviewed those control technologies after 10 years of experience and has confirmed they are the best available.

“AWC’s member companies strive to be good stewards of the environment and in the communities in which they operate, so we are also pleased with EPA’s finding that public health is protected around our wood product mills. AWC and its member companies provided significant mill performance information to EPA in response to the Agency’s 2018 survey, creating a strong record for this rulemaking.

“After evaluating how the PCWP MACT rule has been implemented, EPA has also appropriately identified a few provisions that could be updated to reflect real-world conditions and potential environmental benefits. For example, we are pleased EPA is inviting comment on improving compliance options for less energy-intensive control strategies. However, EPA has also proposed increasing the frequency of testing and reporting that will add additional costs and burdens to an industry that is facing increased global competition. We look forward to providing more detailed comments after further review of the proposal.”