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ARAUCO’s Nueva Aldea Industrial Forestry Complex wastewater pipeline began operation

On December 3, the Nueva Aldea Industrial Forestry Complex pipeline, located in Chile’s Bío Bío Region, began operating. This initial phase considers pouring water used for the system’s cleaning and hydraulic tests as well as treated wastewater into the river and sea. After a few weeks, the treated wastewater as such will be discharged through the underwater pipeline.

During the project’s operation the treated wastewater will be permanently monitored. Internal controls will be additionally conducted. In case temporary discharge of treated wastewater into the Itata River is necessary, a weekly report will be provided through a web page made available for this purpose.

The pipeline, which measures 50.8 kilometers long with an underwater stretch of 2.3 kilometers, will discharge outside the coastal protection area and outside the area for benthic resources management and exploitation, in the location of Mela.

The pipeline launch closes a process that began in November 2005, when ARAUCO submitted an Environmental Impact Statement to the Bío Bío Region CONAMA (National Environmental Commission) for the project “Nueva Aldea Industrial Forestry Complex wastewater pipeline system”.

Following a long process involving citizen participation, this project was granted unanimous environmental approval by the members of COREMA (Regional Environmental Commission) through Environmental Qualification Resolution 051 on February 20, 2006.