http://www.anr.state.vt.us/air/htm/iptireburn.htm

International Paper Company's

Trial Burn of Tire-Derived-Fuel

WHAT’S NEW:

03/24/2008 - The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources issues final report “Air Quality

Data and Observations Made in Vermont during the November 2006 Trial Burn of 

Tire Derived Fuel at the International Paper Company, Ticonderoga, New York”.

[PDF file, 5 MB] This report is a compilation of data, information and observations 

made by the Agency immediately before and during the trail burn. The final report 

summarizes and analyzes the data that was collected from the Agency ambient 

monitoring stations that operated during the trial burn. Even though the trial burn ended 

earlier than expected and without conducting the detailed stack testing that was 

scheduled to be completed the second week, significant ambient monitoring data from 

the Vermont sites were available to evaluate the potential impacts of the shortened trial. 

A detailed review of this ambient data indicated that there were slight increases in zinc 

and other metals detected during the trial but all impacts were still well within state and 

federal health standards. These increases appear to have been caused in part by a 

regional transport event that raised impacts at monitors all over New England during 

this time and which make it difficult to discern IP’s contribution. Had the trial burn 

continued for the full expected duration or had IP burned TDF at the expected higher 

rates of two and three tons per hour it may have been possible to more accurately 

detect the impacts of the trial burn. The testing completed during the trial burn did 

however confirm Vermont’s initial concerns that IP’s existing air pollution controls were 

not adequate and that advanced emissions controls would be necessary to burn TDF in 

an environmentally sound manner at this facility.

02/16/2007 - The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources issues initial report “Air Quality 

Data and Observations Made in Vermont during the November 2006 Trial Burn of Tire 

Derived Fuel at the International Paper Company, Ticonderoga, New York”. This report 

is a compilation of data, information and observations made by the Agency immediately 

before and during the trail burn. This report does not attempt any analyses of these 

data, or draw any conclusions at this time. As information regarding chemical 

composition of air samples collected, summary of metrological data, and other related 

information take time to become available, the Agency, through this report, is making 

generally available that information which it now possess. As more information becomes 

available, the Agency will release that information. It is estimated that it could take 

twelve to eighteen months for the samples submitted for laboratory analyses to be 

available, and an equivalent amount time for the Agency to summarize the metrological 

data and perform atmospheric modeling of exhaust plume behavior. It is the intent of the 

Agency to publish in a subsequent report the results of these analyses.
1/16/2007 - Summary of IP Trial Burn Stack Emission Test Report

11/14/2006 - International Paper Company announces the trial burn has ceased.

11/7/2006 - 11/13/2006 - International Paper Company first adds TDF to the boiler at 

the rate of 1.0 tons per hour at approximately 8:15 am on November 7, 2006. All TDF 

burning ceased at approximately 10:00 pm on November 13, 2006.

11/6/2006 - International Paper Company commences the trial burn with baseline 

particulate matter testing of the boiler without TDF. No TDF burned this day.

AMBIENT MONITORING IN SHOREHAM:

In response to International Paper Company’s proposal to conduct a trial burn of tirederived-fuel, t he Vermont Agency of Natural Resources began operating two ambient 

air monitoring stations in Shoreham, Vermont in late 2003 in order to more accurately 

establish existing ambient air quality background levels for the area. Such background 

levels would then serve as a reference point for comparison to monitored values 

obtained during the trial. Ambient monitoring prior to the trial burn focused mainly on 

collection of PM10 and PM2.5 samples. These samples are also able to be analyzed 

for specific particulate compounds. Meteorological data was also collected at the 

Shoreham North site. Ambient monitoring was enhanced immediately before, during 

and after the trial collecting additional samples and monitoring for additional pollutants. 

The Shoreham North and Shoreham South monitoring sites were selected based on 

projected modeled impacts from the main IP mill boiler stack, which does not 

necessarily coincide with odor emissions associated with the IP wastewater plant 

located approximately two miles north of the main mill. Most monitoring at the 

Shoreham sites ceased on November 26, 2006 with all monitoring completed by 

December 7, 2006.

HISTORY OF TDF TRIALS AT INTERNATIONAL PAPER IN TICONDEROGA:

In September of 1997 IP conducted a very limited trial burn of crumb rubber in the 

Power boiler at the Ticonderoga mill. A total of 4 tons of tire crumb rubber was burned 

over a period of two days. Other than the continuous emission monitors for carbon 

monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide no stack emission testing was conducted. 

Ash samples from the bottom ash and multiclone (prior to the wet scrubber) were 

collected and analyzed. 

1997 Test Results for IP Trial Burn of Crumb Rubber [2.7 MB PDF file]

In September of 2003 International Paper Company (IP) submitted a request to the 

State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) for approval to 

conduct a test burn of tire-derived-fuel in their Power Boiler. The Power Boiler is an 855 
million BTU per hour boiler that burns predominantly No.6 fuel oil but also has solid fuel 

burning capability for burning wood/bark waste generated at the mill. IP proposed to 

burn shredded tires (95% of the metal wire removed) up to a maximum rate of 3 tons 

per hour which is approximately 10% of the total capacity of the Power Boiler. The test 

burn was to take place over a period of up to 30 days and would include stack emission 

testing both during burning with tire-derived-fuel and without in order to obtain 

comparative emission data that would be used in support of a potential future permit 

application for permanent approval. The tire-derived-fuel is intended to displace No.6 

fuel oil usage and lower the mill's energy costs.

On January 26, 2004 the NYDEC determined that a formal application to amend the 

existing Title V Air Permit was required. One year later on February 1, 2005 IP filed the 

Title V amendment application with the NYDEC. The NYDEC determined the 

application to be incomplete on March 10, 2005. IP subsequently addressed the 

deficiencies in the initial application and resubmitted it July 6, 2005. On August 18, 

2005 the Agency hosted a public informational meeting to enable the public to hear from 

and ask question of International Paper and opposition groups regarding the tire burning 

issue. On October 12, 2005 the NYDEC issued a “Draft” Title V Air Permit to the 

International Paper Company approving the test burn of tire-derived-fuel at their 

Ticonderoga, NY mill. The NYDEC held their official public hearings to take comments 

on the draft permit on November 9, 2005 and November 30, 2005 at the Ticonderoga 

Armory Community Center located at 123 Champlain Avenue in Ticonderoga, N.Y. In 

order to facilitate public input on the draft permit from Vermont citizens, the Vermont 

Agency of Natural Resources (Agency) also held a public meeting to take comment on 

the draft permit from those unable to attend the NYDEC meeting or who prefered to 

make their comments at this meeting instead. The meeting was held on Tuesday 

November 15, 2005 at the Middlebury Union Middle School located at 48 Deerfield Lane 

in Middlebury, Vermont. The Agency transcribed the proceedings of the meeting and 

submitted it to the NYDEC as part of the public record. The State of Vermont also 

submitted its own comments on the “Draft” permit to the NYDEC on December 23, 

2005. 

On July 27, 2006 the NYDEC issued the “Proposed” permit to the US EPA Region II for 

their 45 day review period. The US EPA did not object to the permit. The NYDEC then 

issued a final permit to IP on September 20, 2006 approving the trial burn. A copy of 

the final permit can be found below as well as on the NYDEC website at: 

www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dardata/boss/afs/issued_atv.htm 

International Paper subsequently conducted the trial burn November 6, 2006 through 

November 14, 2006. International Paper decided to end the trial prior to conducting the 

extensive stack emission testing that was scheduled for the second week of the trial due 

to higher than expected particulate emissions observed during the first week.

IP Title V Permit (5th amendment issued 09/20/2006) [370 KB PDF file]
IP Title V Permit Review Report (5th amendment issued 09/20/2006) [145 KB PDF 

file]

IP Stack Emission Testing Protocol (Revised June 2005) [13.7 MB PDF file]