Special Report No. 73-01: A Survey of Pulp and Paper Industry Environmental Protection Expenditures and Accomplishments – 1971

The attached special report summarizes the findings of the National Council's survey of industry environmental protection expenditures and accomplishments through 1971, conducted during 1972. This survey was unique in that it inquired simultaneously into both air and water quality protection measures, and for the first time solicited information on solid waste disposal efforts and practices at the point of paper manufacture. Prepared largely through the efforts of Russell O. Blosser of the National Council staff, and dependent for its information input on the cooperative efforts of numerous company personnel in responding to the survey questionnaire, the report addresses a number of salient questions. With regard to industry capital costs, it first seeks to differentiate water quality protection capital expenditures into two categories; namely for external and internal effluent load control measures. Second, it identifies several distinct categories of atmospheric quality protection expenditures. Finally, it summarizes each class of environmental protection capital expenditures through 1971, and presents projections for the 1972-74 time periods. The report then addresses itself to the annual charges being incurred in each of the environmental protection areas, presents a description of the various control measures employed and the extent of their use, and provides an assessment of the industry manpower effort applied to this activity. The report also continues the practice of reporting on water use trends and costs incurred for process water supply and treatment.