COEUR d'ALENE - The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on a draft air-quality operating permit renewal for the Idaho Forest Group LLC's Chilco facility in Athol.

The draft permit extends regulation of air pollutants - such as volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide - from the facility for another five years, Shawnee Chen, DEQ's senior air-quality engineer, said Tuesday.

The 248-acre facility at 4447 E. Chilco Road in Athol produces as much as 280 million board feet of lumber per year. Customers include major home centers, construction suppliers and retailers in North America and globally.

The Chilco facility could potentially release more than 100 tons of pollutants per year, Chen said.

"That's the capacity they have," she said. "In reality, they might emit less because of the market."

The permit also would cover the emission of more than 25 tons of what are called hazardous air pollutants, Chen said.

The deadline for submitted written comments is Nov. 20. A public hearing may be conducted if requested by Nov. 5.

The permit application, draft permit and related documents are available on the DEQ website.

Chen said DEQ will have 30 days to respond to public comments, and then the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will review the information for up to 45 days.

A decision on the permit will likely be made within the next four months, she said.

Chilco plant manager Mike Henley said Tuesday the permit would allow Idaho Forest Group to continue operating the facility's boiler.

"Without the permit, we can't dry our lumber," he said.

He said the company has been operating the plant since 2003. The facility employs 195 people.

"We're always within compliance" of air-quality pollutants limits, he said.

Comments on the draft permit may be submitted on the DEQ website, www.deq.idaho.gov.

They also may be submitted by email to Tessa Stevens at tessa.stevens@deq.idaho.gov, or by mail to Tessa Stevens, Air Quality Division, DEQ state office, 1410 N. Hilton St., Boise, ID, 83706.

For more info:

n National Federation of the Blind: www.nfb.org

n Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired: www.icbvi.idaho.gov or 769-1411

n Blind and Low Vision Support Group: 769-9989