Bruce biodiesel plant working with state
Ecology warnings have no impact 'whatsoever,' president says
BRUCE ‹ The state's Department of Ecology recently issued letter explaining that Air Energy, LLC's plant in Creston is in violation of air quality regulations may not have an impact on plans for a biodiesel plant in Bruce.
Air Energy, LLC is a subsidiary of Technical Holdings and manufactures biodiesel under the trade name of Columbia Bio-Fuel. The company has plans to open a biodiesel production plant in Bruce, located about six miles east of Othello, by June and eventually bring in an oil crusher.
Department of Ecology air quality supervisor Greg Flibbert said an investigation showed the company's biodiesel operation in Creston is not permitted, and he sent a letter explaining the company is in violation of air quality regulations. Since sending the letter, Flibbert said, the company contacted him and discussed what those regulations are, then sent him a notice of construction application for a biodiesel facility at that location.
"I'm not sure what their plans are for Othello," Flibbert said. "They certainly explained that they do have some interest in operating down there. They are currently, from what I understand, building down on Bruce siting. I am not sure the plant is going to house a biodiesel refinery. What they did say was that they were going to have an animal mixing plant, and I also believe that they want to do some oilseed crushing, but that's only hearsay, because I haven't received any applications on it."
Technical Holdings CEO Gary Trautman said the company has gone through the Adams County permitting process. Sometimes there's some confusion, Trautman said, but the company "definitely will file for and obtain any permits required."
Flibbert said some air and water quality representatives would be in Othello today and said the department should have a better idea of what the company plans are at the Bruce site.
Technical Holdings president Bob Boersma said that the Creston notice would not have any effect "whatsoever" on the Bruce plant, adding that the company is meeting with the state and federal government so that it is properly permitted and in good standing with all state and federal agencies.
Ecology public information officer Jani Gilbert said there has been discussion about an internal meeting about the new plant in Bruce to make sure it goes more smoothly.
"We're interested in the same goals," Gilbert said. "We don't want to run into problems with their new operation, so we're going to coordinate about how to oversee that that doesn't happen again."
Trautman said the Bruce plant has an air quality permit, but the question is whether or not that permit includes everything covered in the company's plans.
"We're working on it right now," he said. "We're the first biodiesel plant that has been permitted in the state, and so there's not a lot of clear guidelines to follow. We have been in consultation and meeting (with the state) and are addressing the problem."