The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), supported by recommendations from Newport Chapter has made reconsideration of the wastewater permit for Georgia-Pacifics pulp and paper mill in Toledo its top water permit issue. 'With this now our highest priority, we hope to have something by the end of the year, if not before,' said Steve Schnurbusch, DEQs senior water quality permit analyst. On March 28, 2008 Surfrider submitted a report to DEQ with recommendations for strengthening the wastewater permit of the Georgia Pacific mill. The primary outfall of the mill is located off Nye Beach and the facility releases an average of 11 million gallons a day of treated wastewater (see photo). In related news, a packed house attended a recent public hearing held by Newport City Council concerning a new lease agreement with Georgia Pacific for use of the city rights-of-way for the effluent pipeline.
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Fact Sheet