RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is requiring two companies, Enviva Pellets and Basaga International, to adopt additional dust control measures for facilities near the State Port in Wilmington.

WECT has extensively covered nearby residents’ concerns about dust from the facilities coating their cars, plants and homes. The Division of Air Quality investigated complaints and released information about the required actions Monday afternoon.

According to an email news release, DAQ has notified Enviva Pellets, LLC that it will be required to develop a fugitive dust control plan for its storage and shipping facility on Turtle Dove Court near the port. The release states “DAQ identified that facility as the source of two substantiated fugitive dust complaints”. According to the release, the plan must identify the sources of fugitive dust at the facility and methods to control the dust, and DAQ must review and approve the plan before it will be implemented.

The DAQ also required Basaga International earlier this year to develop a fugitive dust control plan after identifying its wood-chipping facility on Woodbine Street as the source of multiple dust complaints from people living nearby. The release says DAQ expects to finalize the details of Basaga’s fugitive dust control plan in the coming days.

According to the release, North Carolina regulations require a facility to prevent fugitive dust from extending beyond its property boundaries and causing or contributing to substantive complaints or excess dust emissions. DAQ requires a facility to develop and implement a fugitive dust control plan after the Division observes excess dust leaving a property’s boundary or substantiates two dust complaints within 12 months

Anyone with concerns about fugitive dust from a facility should contact the DAQ regional office that serves their county. Complaints can be provided to the Wilmington Regional Office by calling 910-796-7215.

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