OLD TOWN – The Georgia-Pacific Corp. paper mill has applied for a modification to its air emissions permit approved last April by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The alteration would change the boiler that is used as a backup to the lime kiln from the mill’s oil boiler to the new biomass boiler, according to G-P spokeswoman Kelli Manigault.

The lime kiln routinely is used to control the noncondensable gases produced during the pulping process, which often contain odorous sulfur fumes, said Kathy Molokie of the DEP Bureau of Air Quality.

The noncondensable gases now are controlled in the No. 5 lime kiln, but once the new biomass boiler is up and running, it will be used as the backup boiler if that lime kiln should go down and during the summer months when the lime kiln isn’t used.

Written comments will be accepted on the modification to the application until it’s signed and issued, Molokie said.

Requests for a public hearing or for the Board of Environmental Protection to take over jurisdiction must be received by the DEP in writing no later than 20 days after the application was accepted for processing.

The application was accepted on Monday, according to Molokie.

G-P bought the biomass boiler last year from Montreal-based Boralex, which had been using it at a plant in Athens.

G-P has reassembled the unit at its Old Town paper mill and expects to burn 215,000 tons of fuel per year. The unit will supply 16 megawatts of power to the mill.

The mill also has another application under review by the DEP for permission to use construction and demolition debris as fuel for the boiler.

The DEP received six letters from residents requesting either Board of Environmental Protection jurisdiction, or a hearing, or both, according to Karen Knuuti of the Division of Solid Waste.

No decision has been made regarding those requests.