Commissioner Richard Booth asked about noise levels in the manufacturing process.

The equipment, including a kiln, 40-foot emissions stacks and a drying silo, tests at 72 decibels, a noise level somewhere between normal conversation and the sound of a telephone dial tone, APA staff planner Colleen Parker told the board.

The new facility is also being built farther away from the residence closest to existing Box & Pallet operations.

Balloon tests done at the new site showed no visual impact from points either along the Ausable River or Interstate 87.

PERMIT COSTS

APA Commissioner Arthur Lussi asked Lemza how much cost the APA application added to the permit process.

Lemza did not provide an exact figure.

“It definitely was an expense putting it together,” he said.

Much of the analysis for review is coordinated by APA staff.

In an interview after the meeting, Lemza spoke highly of their efforts.

“They’ve (APA) been more than helpful. In two permits, I’ve never seen any issues.”

FINANCING NEEDED

The new pellet industry will be run with state-of-the-art computer system in a plant requiring a capital investment of more than $2 million.