On May 2, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) announced the approval of a Title V air quality permit for Edwards Wood Products, Inc. – Laurinburg Saw Mill #2, located in Scotland County.
The sawmill previously operated under a synthetic minor air quality permit, which imposed a limit on the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to less than 100 tons per year. The facility sought a modification to lift this restriction, enabling it to be classified as a major source, which necessitates a Title V air quality permit. Major sources fall under stricter regulations and face more frequent inspections.
Despite this change, the mill will continue to be a minor source for hazardous air pollutants. The updated permit retains an operational limit that controls the emissions of toxic air pollutants from Edwards Wood Products. According to air dispersion modeling reviewed by DAQ, the facility’s operations, under these constraints, are not anticipated to breach health-based limits.
The approved permit stipulates conditions to ensure the facility’s emitted pollutants’ ambient levels adhere to emission standards, including health-based standards, beyond the facility’s perimeter. It mandates recordkeeping, reporting, and regular inspections for compliance.
The final permit, review documents, permit application, environmental justice report, and a project fact sheet are accessible online.
