TICONDEROGA, N.Y. (Sept. 19) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allowing the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to determine whether to issue a final permit to International Paper Co. to allow a test burn of tire-derived fuel at its Ticonderoga, N.Y. facility, according to an IP spokeswoman.
The EPA had until Sept. 11 to issue an order, one way or the other, on the NYDEC´s draft permit allowing the two-week test burn, and its decision not to do so means the issue reverts to the state agency, the IP spokeswoman said.
However, the State of Vermont, which opposes the test burn, has petitioned the EPA to halt it, and the federal agency must rule on that petition within 60 days. Meanwhile, the IP Ticonderoga plant is "in preparation mode" for the test burn pending the agencies´ rulings, the spokeswoman said.