BAILEYVILLE – The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has fined Washington County’s largest employer more than $20,000 for air quality violations.

Domtar Industries Ltd. and the Department of Environmental Protection have reached a negotiated settlement and the Bureau of Environmental Protection is expected to approve the agreement at its meeting today.

According to the proposed Administrative Consent Agreement and Enforcement Order, the excess emission and quarterly reports submitted by the company between the first and fourth quarters of 2003 indicated that from time to time the company failed to operate the facility’s venturi scrubber on its No. 9 boiler, smelt dissolving tank scrubber on its No. 3 boiler and venturi scrubber on the lime kiln.

Domtar spokesman Gaile Nicholson said Wednesday that the company makes it a practice to resolve any outstanding environmental matters with the DEP on a regular basis.

“In 2003, Domtar’s Woodland pulp and paper mill, despite having some of the toughest environmental standards in North America, successfully achieved a stunning 99.21 percent compliance operating rate for air standards,” she said.

Included within the $23,800 fine is $21,155 that the company has agreed to spend to retrofit school buses with emission reduction devices.

The DEP identified this part of the agreement as a pollution reduction project since it will significantly reduce by 20 to 40 percent diesel tailpipe emissions to the atmosphere.

“The project can also be considered a public health benefit since reduction of diesel emissions from school buses will reduce emissions of fine particulate matter that is potentially inhaled by students and adults on and around school buses,” the agreement said.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to diesel exhaust, even at low levels, is a serious health hazard and can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, lung damage and increases the risk of lung cancer.

Schools that will benefit from the project are in Baileyville, Calais and the surrounding areas of Perry, Pembroke, Charlotte, Eastport and Dennysville.

Nicholson said that Domtar voluntarily elected to participate in the Supplemental Environmental Project.

“SEP is a regulatory policy that is optional at the mill’s discretion,” she said. “SEPs are environmentally beneficial activities that the [company] charged with a violation voluntarily agrees to perform as part of an enforcement resolution, but that is not otherwise obligated or likely to perform,” she said. “In this case, Domtar has agreed to voluntarily pay additional funds to participate in this program in order to return a benefit and make a positive impact in our local community through this process.”

Nicholson said the project would reduce by 25 percent harmful diesel particulate matter from school bus tailpipe emissions. The engine crankcase filter will remove 100 percent of toxic crankcase emissions, she added.

This is not the first time the company has faced fines.

Last year, the company was fined more than $88,000 in water quality and wastewater discharges fines.

The agreement covered myriad violations beginning in 2001, including a near meltdown at a paper mill pump house when several thousands of gallons of hazardous black liquor used in papermaking spilled into the St. Croix River.

In 2002, the company was ordered to pay an $11,504 fine to resolve air emission license violations.