When the dust settles, sawmill's neighbors complain
Monday, September 25, 2006 7:27 AM PDT
By Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articlePRINEVILLE, Ore. -- For more than six decades wood products companies have operated at the site of Woodgrain Millwork, but residents who've recently moved near the plant are annoyed by sawdust from the facility.
Woodgrain Millwork received a warning letter from the state Department of Environmental Quality that said it had exceeded the acceptable amount of wood particle fallout.
Company officials say they're working to correct the problem.
Based in Fruitland, Idaho, Woodgrain remanufactures door and window components for homes. The company purchased the former American Pine Products facility in July 2004 and employs 350 people in Prineville.
The DEQ has received 16 written and verbal complaints about Woodgrain Millwork from neighbors who've moved around it. The DEQ started receiving complaints last year, said Frank Messina, DEQ air quality specialist.
Since then, more homes have been built in the 156-unit Stone Ridge subdivision, which borders the factory to the east and southeast.
"Between the noise and continuous sawdust fallout, nobody wants to be outside," said Dave Fritag, a Stone Ridge resident.
Fritag and his wife bought their home in June 2004 with no idea how much dust would fall on the property. They didn't buy patio furniture because of the dust and discomfort of sitting outside, he said.
Jim Poling, who lives in the Stone Ridge neighborhood, says the dust is the worst in summer.
"When you wash your rig, within 45 minutes there's dust back on it," he said. "You can't leave the windows of your house open or your car outside after you've washed it or you have a mist of dust."
Woodgrain General Manager Steve Forrester thinks the company can address neighbors' complaints.
"We've been improving our systems for years, but some of our neighbors have experienced fallout," he said.
Using sticky paper, the Department of Environmental Quality measured the wood particle fallout around the factory, and required the factory to submit a written plan for preventing fallout on neighboring residents.
The company's general manager said Woodgrain will spend $50,000 to $100,000 on a cleanup that will include pressure washing dust and waste collectors, enclosing its truck dump operations, cleaning up soil and landscaping.
The DEQ will conduct another sticky-paper test in the spring or summer, Messina said.
"Hopefully, they'll reduce their wood-fiber fallout during the winter," he said. "If we have fallout, hopefully complainants will communicate with me. I'd go out and see it."
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