© 2012 New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. All rights reserved

Nitrate Reduction at

Finch Paper LLC

Who We Are

Integrated pulp and paper mill, Glens Falls

– 750 employees

– hemlock and hardwood logs

– ammonium bisulfite pulping process • NH4 + HSO3 vs NaOH + Na2S

– High quality alkaline digital printing papers

• Finch Fine Color Copy • Finch Fine ID

US EPA Toxic Release Inventory in NYS

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

5,000,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

TRI E

mis

sion

s an

d D

isch

arge

s in

lbs/

yr

Reporting Year

Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) Data For NYS from '06-11

#1 in NY

#5 in NY

#10 in NY

Finch Paper

TRI Compounds Reported

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

2008 2009 2010 2011

TRI E

mis

sion

s an

d D

isch

arge

s in

lbs/

yr

year

TRI Data For Finch from '08-'11

Ammonia

Benzo(g,h,i)perpylene

Chlorine

Chlorine Dioxide

Formaldehyde

Formic Acid

Lead Compounds

Manganese Compounds

Methanol

Nitrate Compounds

PACs

Dioxin and Furans

Total

© 2012 New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. All rights reserved

NYSP2I Direct Assistance Project Task 1: Site Visit Conducted - The project team evaluated

production lines, waste generation areas, and waste storage areas, Dec. 2011

Task 2: Process Info & Data Collected - Identified areas where nitrate is formed and the quantity generated. Information and data provided by Finch Paper:

– Data for completion of the NYSP2I Data Intake Form – Process flow diagrams of the pulp and paper making processes – TRI reporting data for years 2010 and 2011 – Operation data from the wastewater treatment system for 2010 and

2011 – Waste Treatment Costs – SPDES Permit – Policies & Procedures Log – Waste Treatment

Task 3: Waste Assessment and Root Cause Analysis Performed – Performed an analysis to identify the potential key causes of Nitrates from the wastewater treatment plant

Task 4: Presented Focused Assessment Opportunities – Final presentation of findings and recommendations

© 2012 New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. All rights reserved

Finch Waste Treatment System

Finch Waste Treatment System

Finch Waste Treatment System

Finch Waste Treatment System

Finch Waste Treatment System

Finch Waste Treatment System

© 2012 New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. All rights reserved

Nitrate Reduction at Finch Paper • TRI Releases in 2010 = 1.81M lbs Nitrate compounds • NYSP2I evaluated potential to reduce total annual nitrate discharge

to Hudson River from Finch’s on-site Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plant

• SPDES permit does not include a limit for nitrate; TRI reporting is required

• NYSP2I made recommendations for improved operation of Treatment Plant using abundant data provided by Finch – Alter Dissolved Oxygen concentration levels to reduce Nitrates Other recommendations: – Modify the target Food to Mass (F:M) ratio operating parameter – Add Phosphorous to meet bio-growth needs

2010 2011 Potential with suggested controls

Average effluent NO3 (PPY) 1,810,000 1,560,000 421,965

Finch Waste Treatment System

Trial NO3 Discharge Rate

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Nitr

ate

Dis

char

ge (l

bs o

f NO

3)

Month

Cummulative Nitrate Discharges From Feb. To Dec. (Trial Started Feb.)

2009

2010

2011

2012

22% Reduction Compared to 2011

Added Benefit – Electrical Savings

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00 2/

1/20

12

2/8/

2012

2/15

/201

2

2/22

/201

2

2/29

/201

2

3/7/

2012

3/14

/201

2

3/21

/201

2

3/28

/201

2

4/4/

2012

4/11

/201

2

4/18

/201

2

4/25

/201

2

5/2/

2012

5/9/

2012

5/16

/201

2

5/23

/201

2

5/30

/201

2

Kilo

wat

t hou

rs U

sed

At W

aste

Tre

atm

ent

2012 Daily Avg. Hourly Usage 2011 Monthly Avg. Hourly Usage

BUY LOCAL BUY FINCH!