The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is seeking public input on a proposed modification to the air quality permit for Columbia Plywood Corporation’s Columbia Carolina Division in McDowell County. The draft permit would allow the facility to install an air curtain incinerator unit to burn wood waste generated during plywood manufacturing.
With the addition of this incinerator, potential emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide at the facility would increase above major-source thresholds, triggering the need for a Title V air quality permit from the state. According to DAQ, air dispersion modeling has shown that emissions from both toxic air pollutants and particulate matter from the new unit are not expected to exceed health-based limits. The draft permit also restricts throughput and hours of operation at the facility to help limit hazardous air pollution.
The proposed permit includes conditions designed to ensure compliance with emission standards, including those based on health impacts, beyond the property boundary. Columbia Plywood would be required to maintain records, submit reports, and undergo regular inspections as part of these requirements.
“The Division will consider all public comments before making a final decision on the proposed permit. Comments or requests for a public hearing will be accepted until Sept. 11, 2025. Comments can be emailed to daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with ‘ColumbiaPlywood.24B’ in the subject line, or left via voicemail by calling 919-707-8728. Comments can also be mailed to:
NCDEQ Division of Air Quality
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1641″
Documents related to the draft permit—including the public notice, draft permit itself, review documents, application materials, and a project fact sheet—are available online.
