2-19: Sugar factory odors better

NAMPA In the thick of Amalgamated Sugars fall campaign to process the millions of pounds of sugar beets, weather in the Treasure Valley can have a big effect on the plants emissions and the accompanying smell. Complaints are down but more efforts are under way. To help the Nampa factory adjust for the weather, the company installed a complete weather station west of the plant on the corner of Karcher Road and Ten Lane. The new station has a full complement of weather reading devices and is linked to the factory by a computer modem to allow company officials to instantly dial up the latest weather conditions. By having access to up-to-the-minute weather details, Jim Kusterer, technical assistant superintendent for Amalgamated, said the plant can better predict weather conditions and how they affect emissions. We cant change the weather, but we can change the way our emissions behave when weather is unfavorable, he said. Changes to improve the plants emissions were launched in the spring of 1999 after Micronpc.com filed a lawsuit on grounds the plants odors would have a negative effect on business. After the lawsuit was filed, representatives from both companies met with a facilitator and agreed on a three-year plan to reduce emissions and odors at the plant. Kusterer said the plant is in the second year of the plan and the measures taken to reduce odors appear to be working. This year, during the plants fall campaign, only one formal complaint about odor was received from Micronpc.com in mid-December. Last year the plant received seven complaints from the Nampa computer manufacturer. Anne Alenskis, a spokesperson for Micronpc.com, said the company appreciates Amalgamateds efforts. We understand that their work has resulted in increased operating efficiency as well as environmental awards and industry recognition, Alenskis said. While there has been a decrease in the number of Micron employee odor complaints from last year's sugar beet campaign, there is still work to be done. Alenskis said the two companies have developed a good working relationship to solve the odor problem. Kusterer said that relationship will continue. Weve showed good faith toward the community and our neighbors, Kusterer said. By assuring them were going to do what we said we would and will continue to do so. Kusterer said adding the weather station, which was up and running this past week, is the latest step the company is doing to further reduce odor. Steps already under way to reduce odor include injecting the plants steam plumes with environmentally-safe chemicals that neutralize odors rather than covering them up. Amalgamated also introduced a fiber removal system that removes more of the organic material that is responsible for odors in the plants waste products. Kusterer said the plant is using the latest chemical technologies, including odor neutralizing chemicals customized specifically for the sugar factory. Kusterer also said adding the weather station will help reduce odors because the plant will know when to adjust odor reduction measures for the weather. On days when the wind is shifting toward sensitive areas, the plant can inject additional chemicals into the steam plume to reduce odor. But even with all those changes, Kusterer said people need to understand the plant will never be odor free because they are working with organic products that by their very nature produce odor.

To reach business reporter Ken Dey, call 465-8118 or e-mail kdey@idahopress.com.

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