Violations of the plant's wastewater discharge permit limits for biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids and fecal coliform were reported throughout 1995. Procedures are being revised and staff further trained at the mill's process wastewater treatment facility after operational procedures contributed to violations of the mill's permitted limit for discharge of total suspended solids to the Columbia River. The limit was exceeded three times between September 1995 and January 1996. Operational changes are also underway at the mill's small sanitary wastewater treatment plant, where permit limits for discharge of fecal coliform bacteria were exceeded twice in January 1996 and chlorine residual violations were reported five times between October 1995 and January 1996.
Chlorine is used to control bacteria in the sanitary plant effluent.
Fecal coliform concentrations are measured to indicate the possible presence of bacteria that can be a threat to humans. The grant will also support education programs and equipment for solid waste prevention and recycling, and updatethe county's solid waste management plan. The district will also educate the public on practices that protect ground water.