Background

In 1908, a paper mill began operating in the small mountain town of Canton, North Carolina. Over the last century, the expanded mill has been polluting the tiny Pigeon River, now known as the “Dirty Bird” by locals and whitewater enthusiasts. Yet, to this day, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ), responsible for Clean Water Act compliance, has been reluctant to enforce discharge requirements protective of fish species, aquatic life and healthy recreational conditions.

Although the Canton Mill has modernized its paper production process in order to reduce discharge of dioxins (some of the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds known to man), the past decade has witnessed continued impact to the stream by high temperature and color, causing major fish kills as recently as September 2007.

High temperature wastewater causes depleted oxygen and a dead zone in the river, killing fish and other aquatic life. In low-flow periods, the mill discharge can be more than 50 percent of the total flow of the river. “Color” is a measurement of tannins and lignins that darken the water, constituents that are generally non-toxic but can be indicative of other trace toxic chemicals in the waste stream.

Lack of enforcement and penalties for such egregious harm to the river means that public citizens' groups need to stay vigilant in keeping pressure on DWQ to give the mill a stricter water discharge permit, in order to reduce the harmful impact of the mill discharge. The permit is currently pending renewal by DWQ, and local citizens are fearful that the state agency will keep the status quo of polluted water.

The mill is a keystone of the local economy in Canton, 10 miles west from the music mecca of Asheville, NC. EPA and technical working groups have identified new technology that can clean up the plant's discharge while saving money in the long run.

Update

The saga of the Pigeon River, polluted by a paper mill discharge for over 100 years, continues.  North Carolina's Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) has refused once again to strengthen the mill's discharge permit to clean up the river.  NCDWQ recently released a draft of the discharge permit, overdue for renewal since expiring in 2006.  Delays in permit issuance and a secretive planning process had prompted Rock the Earth to consider filing a request for the release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act.  However, NCDWQ finally published the draft permit—with NO improvement required for the Pigeon River's water quality, and allowing continuing detrimental impact to downstream habitat and communities in East Tennessee. 

 In fact, NCDWQ even removed the mill's “color variance,” an acknowledgement that the mill has and will continue to violate North Carolina's vague narrative standard for paper mill discharges.  “That says to us they are closing the book on any future cleanup of the river,” says Katie Hicks of Clean Water For North Carolina.

Citizen Action is Needed

Public comments are urgently needed.  Please make the following points in your comments: 

 WHAT’S NEEDED TO RESTORE THE PIGEON RIVER?

• Strict DAILY enforcement of a numerical color standard at least as strong as the one EPA called for in 1987.
• Reduction of toxic discharges in every permit cycle.
•  No more foam, odors, or “unpalatable” fish. 
• Reduced discharge levels during low-flow river conditions.
• Restoration of healthy aquatic habitat by meeting Clean Water Act temperature requirements.

Written comments should be submitted to:  Ms. Dina Sprinkle, NC Division of Water Quality/NPDES Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center,  Raleigh, NC 27699-1617; or via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Be sure to reference PERMIT NUMBER: NC0000272

The Public Comment deadline is currently set for Feb. 26, 2010. 

Links

Clean Water for North Carolina