Overview
Clearwater Paper in Shelby, North Carolina, is an operational pulp and paper facility. It operates under US EPA regulations including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and RCRA.
Clearwater Paper is a pulp and paper facility located at 671 Washburn Switch Road in Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina. The plant is operational and classified under NAICS codes 322110 (Pulp Mills), 322120 (Paper Mills), and 322121 (Paperboard Mills), indicating a large-scale integrated operation producing pulp, paper, and paperboard. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which enforces multi-media environmental standards. This includes the Clean Air Act (CAA) for air emissions, the Clean Water Act (CWA) for wastewater discharges, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for hazardous waste management. As a pulp and paper plant, it is subject to specific effluent guidelines and air emission standards under the EPA's Pulp and Paper Cluster Rules. Clearwater Paper's operations are significant within the regional industrial landscape of North Carolina, a state with a strong manufacturing base. The facility's location in Shelby places it in a community with proximity to residential areas, necessitating robust environmental management to mitigate potential impacts from air emissions and water discharges. The plant's role in the pulp and paper sector contributes to the local economy while operating under stringent environmental oversight.
Environmental context
The pulp and paper sector is inherently pollution-intensive, with primary process emissions including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur compounds from pulping and bleaching operations. Wastewater discharges can contain organic loads, chlorinated compounds, and suspended solids. In North Carolina, facilities like Clearwater Paper are subject to state and federal regulations that require permits for air emissions (Title V) and wastewater discharges (NPDES). The plant's proximity to the community of Shelby underscores the importance of compliance with environmental standards to protect local air and water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Clearwater Paper is located at 671 Washburn Switch Road, Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States.
Clearwater Paper is a pulp and paper facility that produces pulp, paper, and paperboard, as indicated by its NAICS codes 322110, 322120, and 322121.
Clearwater Paper operates under US EPA regulations including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. It must comply with air emission permits, wastewater discharge permits, and hazardous waste management rules.
Pulp and paper facilities have a medium to high environmental risk due to emissions of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur compounds, as well as wastewater containing organic and chlorinated compounds. Regulatory oversight helps mitigate these risks.
Clearwater Paper's operations in Shelby contribute to the local economy through employment and industrial activity. Environmental management practices are in place to minimize impacts on air and water quality in the surrounding community.
Other Pulp Paper plants in United States · 6 nearby