Georgia-Pacific Corp. will invest $16 million to reduce emissions of chloroform and other pollutants at its mill in Woodland.

The investment also will improve the mill’s competitive position by substantially reducing its use of elemental chlorine, which is used as a whitener in the papermaking process. Several European countries have banned chlorine-bleached paper, and the United States appears to be moving in that direction.

“We are convinced that this pollution-prevention initiative effectively positions the mill to comply with future major environmental requirements,” said Scott Beal, manager of environmental affairs at G-P.

The process changes were lauded by Gov. John R. McKernan, who announced the project jointly with G-P.

“Georgia-Pacific’s investment will not only make hundreds of Washington County jobs more secure, but also demonstrates the company’s commitment to the Woodland mill,” said McKernan.

Officials of the Woodland mill said the changes will allow G-P to improve the marketability of its pulp in a difficult market.

“The pulp market still is suffering from oversupply and weak prices,” said Chester Williams, general manager of the mill. “The near-term outlook for pulp is not good. … We believe (the reduction in chlorine) will help us produce a product the market will want to buy.”

In 1992, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection identified chloroform emissions at the Woodland mill as a significant concern. The switch from elemental chlorine to hydrogen peroxide in one stage of the bleaching process is expected to cut chloroform emissions by up to 95 percent.