Based upon a recent report from the American Forest & Paper Association, the lowering of PM.2.5 would severely harm the Paper and Forestry Industry. The report stated the EPA ruling delivered a devastating blow, especially to U.S. Manufacturing. The EPA rule was amended in 1990 including fine particles particulate (PM.25). The new rule was implemented on January 27, 2023, with a preferred range of nine to twelve micrograms.
Based upon our initial feedback, we were informed that most of the larger Paper and Pulp Mills in Wisconsin have converted to Natural Gas or other energy resources to comply with the new EPA rules. However, we have close to nineteen Paper Manufacturers with three virgin pulp mills plus a number of recycled pulp mills that we must be concerned with in the State of Wisconsin. We recognize these facilities are from 50 to 100 years old and Wisconsin cannot afford to lose our paper and pulp manufacturing! We need to bring together the State of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Paper Council, the Wisconsin DNR, The Great Lakes Timber Professionals, and other Associations to support Paper Manufacturing in Wisconsin. The Green Bay Innovation Group understands that Paper is the backbone of the 5P and Converting Industries. Without Paper and Pulp Manufacturing in Wisconsin, it will have a major impact across the Wisconsin Economy.
The Green Bay Innovation Group would like to hear back from you to better understand the impact on your company. We will be putting out a survey to the Paper and Pulp Companies to better understand the impact on your company.
We do recognize the Huge Impact of ambient PM.25 on Public Health Worldwide even at low levels. The USA has done an excellent job with PM.25 over the past 20 years! We refer to Particle Pollution as soot. One of the biggest causes of soot is wildfire smoke and with Wisconsin’s mild winter, we can expect potential problems with wildfires. We can expect that Canada and the Western USA will continue having wildfires impacting Wisconsin. Wisconsin will need to support our DNR, Forestry Service, and the Great Lakes Timber Association to minimize the impact of fires. Wisconsin will have to bring together ALL parties to produce a reasonable and sensible solution.
