The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is soliciting public input on a draft Title V air quality permit for the Edwards Wood Products, Inc. – Laurinburg Saw Mill #2 in Scotland County.
Currently, the facility operates under a synthetic minor air quality permit that restricts emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to below 100 tons annually. The sawmill seeks to modify this permit to eliminate the cap, categorizing it as a major source requiring a Title V air quality permit. This change would entail stricter regulations and increased inspections.
Despite the modification, the mill will remain a minor source for hazardous air pollutants. An operational limit will be retained to control emissions of toxic air pollution. According to air dispersion modeling analyzed by the DAQ, the facility’s operations under this limit are not projected to exceed health-based thresholds.
The draft permit outlines conditions that ensure the facility’s pollutant emission levels meet emissions standards, including health-based standards, beyond its property boundaries. Regular recordkeeping, reporting, and inspections would be mandated.
The Division will review all public comments before concluding on the proposed permit. Comments or requests for a public hearing are open until April 30, 2025. Interested individuals can send comments via email to daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with “LaurinburgSawMill.24B” as the subject line, or leave a voicemail at 919-707-8714. Comments may also be mailed to NCDEQ Division of Air Quality, 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1641.
Available online are public notice copies, the draft permit, draft permit review, permit application, draft environmental justice report, and a one-page project fact sheet.
