Nip Impressions logo
Tue, Mar 19, 2024 02:28
Visitor
Home
Click here for Pulp & Paper Radio International
Subscription Central
Must reads for pulp and paper industry professionals
Search
My Profile
Login
Logout
Management Side
Caribou plan could nix upgrades for Grande Prairie Weyerhaeuser mill

GRAND PRAIRIE, Alberta (From news reports) -- Uncertainty looms over the Grande Prairie-area Weyerhaeuser wood mill as the company seeks assurance from the province about new caribou regulations.

A provincial plan to protect threatened woodland caribou could reduce the mill's supply of timber, effectively putting an end to its operation, said Wendy Crosina, manager of forest stewardship for Weyerhaeuser Timberlands.

About 67% of the company's merchantable timber is within caribou ranges that will be protected under the new regulations.

"If the constraints of a caribou range plan keep us out of those caribou ranges to any degree, or any great degree, we're not going to have enough wood to run the mill," she said.

Crosina said the company needs assurance from the province that the new plan won't reduce the mill's supply of wood, or "fibre."

The company has been looking at a major upgrade to the local sawmill, located in the County of Grande Prairie, but that may be called off soon without reassurance from the province, Crosina said.

"If they're going to be investing a considerable amount of money in that sawmill, they'd like to have some level of assurance that we're going to have adequate and secure fibre supply for the next 20 years.

"Our concern is that if we don't get something that we can take to the company that says we have a high level of confidence that we're going to get the volume we need, they'll take that capital investment somewhere else in the company."

The upgrades, which would cost $70 million to $90 million, would allow the mill to adapt to a changing "wood supply profile," Crosina said.

"We're coming into some smaller wood and it's a little bit more scattered than it has been."

The company will be making decisions on capital investment in August.

Weyerhaeuser sent a letter to the province earlier this year asking for reassurance, but the response wasn't what they'd hope for, Crosina said.

Another letter was sent this month, followed by letters of support from the City and County of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview.

Weyerhaeuser's letter, sent July 9, said the company needed assurance by Aug. 10. Crosina said they're waiting for a response.

In addition to the planned capital investment, the company is also in the midst of creating a long-term forest management plan, which it must provide to the province every 10 years, Crosina said. That's another reason why it needs to know how it will be affected by the new caribou range plan.

In March, the province suspended portions of the draft plan, citing concerns about the its impact on the economy.

Weyerhaeuser has been working for two or three years with the province and "local stakeholders" to come up with a viable plan, Crosina said.

"We think we can work towards a solution that gives us access to harvesting within the caribou ranges, maintains caribou on the land base but also gives us enough wood to run our mills."

****

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

* We are looking for a Production Shift Team Leader to maintain high standards, plus ensure safety policies and regulations for a company located close to Chicago's Midway Airport. If you are experienced team leader who has a four-year degree in an engineering/technical field (paper science degree preferred, and experience in recycled linerboard or corrugating medium paper mills is a plus), we are looking for someone like you! If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* A family owned and operated corrugated packaging solutions company in Illinois is looking for an experienced Maintenance Technician to maintain production and quality by ensuring operation of machinery and mechanical equipment. Relocation and other perks are available to the right candidate who is committed to working third shift. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* Are you an experienced Maintenance Mechanic and would like to work for a family owned and operated corrugated packaging solutions company that invests in the best equipment and technology? If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* A leading company in the corrugated solutions packaging business is looking for a experienced Electrician. The right candidate will possess the following skills: electrical; hydraulic; automatic drives (basic component machines 122 to 440 volts). If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* An expanding company is looking for a Corporate Industrial Electro-Mechanical Engineer near Allentown, PA. Relocation is available. Do you have a storied list of unique electrical and mechanical engineering skills you're ready to take to the next level? Do you envision yourself in a corporate-level leadership role that your experience finally merits? And do you relish any opportunity to troubleshoot and solve real-time problems, all while designing and installing new services and systems that will not only ensure safety, but also turn a potentially hazardous work environment into a continuously thriving one? If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

* An expanding company is looking for hands-on Electro Mechanical Maintenance Techs in Conyers, Georgia. Preference will be given to candidates with higher education and additional certificates or training. You must be able to work any shift. Pay is negotiable with excellent perks and benefits. Relocation assistance is available to the right candidate. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412.

****

Jim Thompson is back again...with a new book on a taboo subject: the personalities in the pulp & paper industry. Jim has written in the past on many subjects based on his four plus decades in the worldwide pulp and paper industry. This new book is packed full of information valuable to the senior member of the industry as well as the recent entrant. A must for every pulp and paper library.


Printer-friendly format

 





Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: