Chirk Particleboard Factory - Draft Decision Consultation

Overview

Kronospan Limited have submitted an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to change its environmental permit for the Chirk Particleboard Factory (permit number EPR/BW9999IG).

This change, termed a ‘variation’, is a legal requirement under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 (EPR). 

We have assessed the proposed changes and are minded to grant the permit variation. We are seeking your comments on the draft permit.

Application Details

Application Reference: EPR/BW9999IG/V012

Application Type: Substantial variation to an environmental permit.

Regulated facility location: Chirk Particleboard Factory, Holyhead Road, Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5NT

Operator: Kronospan Limited

Proposed Activity: EPR Schedule 1 Part 2 Chapter 6, Section 6.1 A(2) (a) – Producing in an industrial plant, one or more of the following wood-based panels with a production capacity exceeding 600m³ per day: oriented strand board, particleboard or fibreboard.

The operator applied to vary the existing permit to include an oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing line at the installation. The variation consists of associated storage and chemical usage for OSB production and the addition of two waste codes for materials used in the manufacture of OSB and particleboard.

Other changes introduced by this variation are:

• the storage and use of hydrogen peroxide for dosing in the wet electrostatic precipitators for the oxidisation of total volatile organic carbon, if necessary for odour abatement.
• the re-establishment and upgrade of two existing direct dryers for the OSB process.
• the inclusion of additional land within the installation boundary for a new north site access road, lorry park and two surface water wetlands;
• a new release point for uncontaminated surface water runoff from the additional land incorporated into the installation boundary to the north of the existing site;
• changes to the rail unloading and biomass handling and storage arrangements;
• additional raw material storage areas and hardstanding within the log yard; and
• the inclusion of two existing emission points from the Medium Density Fibre (MDF) cyclones from the MDF reject bin and fiber recirculation.

Our draft decision

We are minded to issue the permit variation. We will only issue a permit variation if we believe that significant pollution will not be caused, and the operator has the ability to meet the conditions of the permit.

The permit includes appropriate conditions to protect human health and the environment. 

Why your views matter  

This is your opportunity to review our draft decision and submit your comments. We will take all relevant responses into account before we make our final decision on the permit application. 

Please see Natural Resources Wales / Public participation: how you can take part in our permit and licence consultations for more information on how we consult and what matters are within our regulatory remit.  

You can view the following draft documents using the links below:

• Draft Permit
• Draft Variation and Consolidation Notice
• Draft Decision Document

They are also available on our online public register.

You can submit your comments using the online consultation link below. If you have any issues submitting your comments, you can send your comments to us by email to permittingconsultations@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.