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EPA Announces Angelina River Decision

Release Date: 6/22/2001
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to maintain the  current water quality standard for a segment of the Angelina River in east Texas.  The  announcement follows review of extensive work presented by the Texas Natural Resource  Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and discussions with representatives from the state  regulatory agencies, Donohue Industries, Inc., environmental organizations and the local  community.

     The Angelina River segment receives the wastewater discharge of the Donohue paper  mill in Lufkin, Texas.  The Lufkin paper mill will continue to operate under the current water  quality designation in accordance with an Administrative Order issued by EPA.  Over the past several years, the Lufkin paper mill has made a significant investment in scientific studies of the river to help protect aquatic life, in addition to spending millions of dollars on new treatment technology.

     In response to EPA's decision, the company has committed to making additional  improvements to ensure full compliance with federal Clean Water Act requirements.  The company also volunteered to undertake several environmental projects, valued at more that $1  million dollars, to benefit the area including early reduction of air emissions, Wetlands Park and  Education Center, a regional habitat assessment, a fish study, county septic system  improvements, and fishery management assessment and stocking.

     By bringing together Donohue Industries, Inc., TNRCC, EPA, environmental  organizations and the local community, a win-win solution has been developed to protect water  quality in the Angelina River.

     "The EPA applauds the company's commitment to voluntarily undertake environmental projects that will benefit the Lufkin community and enhance the water quality in this region of Texas.  The proposed projects should have long-lasting and beneficial effects on the environmental quality of the area," said Gregg Cooke, Regional Administrator.

     Water quality standards set criteria for water uses. For example, Texas has standards for  domestic water supplies and recreational water bodies in addition to aquatic life. The federal Clean Water Act requires EPA to approve or disapprove new or revised water quality standards submitted by the states.

     The TNRCC proposed to reclassify the river segment as "intermediate" aquatic life use  from the current water quality status of "high" use.  The EPA concluded that supporting  documentation, including biological, habitat and dissolved oxygen data were not sufficient to justify a change from the existing, presumed level of high aquatic life use to intermediate aquatic life use.  Although EPA could not approve the proposed change in use designation, scientific information indicates that a site specific standard may be appropriate.  Such a standard change would need to be supported by an additional scientifically sound, site-specific criteria study.

     "We are committed to work with the TNRCC to determine an appropriate site-specific water quality standard for the Angelina River segment. The TNRCC's expert analysis will be vital to our understanding of information needed to protect the uses of the river," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.  "EPA will continue to work closely with state regulators, the company, environmental organizations and the community, to protect the Angelina River including helping to conduct a river study to determine if a site-specific water quality standard is appropriate," he added.

     The Angelina River feeds into Lake Sam Rayburn, a popular recreational lake.  The water  quality standard in the Angelina River segment will remain "high" for aquatic use unless a site- specific study demonstrates to state/federal regulators otherwise.