Falls Journal
Laurel Beager
A sulfuric acid release by Packaging Corporation of American’s Boise paper mill into the Rainy River a week ago is not likely to cause health effects to humans or fish, an Minnesota Pollution Control Agency official said yesterday.
“Based on conversations with PCA and the volume that was spilled, we’re pretty confident as far as human exposure to the river and concern with acid–it is not an issue because of the dilution effect–that’s the biggest one,” said John Thomas, environmental specialist with MPCA Water Quality Division in Duluth.
An unintentional release of sulfuric acid at the PCA paper in International Falls last week was confirmed Monday.
“A sulfuric acid release to the wastewater treatment system on Wednesday [July 19] caused a disruption in treatment efficiency,” PCA public affairs manager Lori Lyman told The Journal.
“Mill personnel immediately took appropriate action, including reporting the incident to the MPCA duty officer,” she noted.
