Alford Drinkwater, representative of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, revealed plans for a new manufacturing plant near Watts during Tuesday’s meeting of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.

Based in Springdale, Ark., AERT manufactures a wood and plastic composite material used in decking, trim and privacy fencing, and is planning a 900-acre plant adjacent to the Illinois River. According to Drinkwater, the plan will span five years and three phases, which includes building operations for polyethylene processing, wood fiber processing and extrusion.

The total investment over the five years will run $42.85 million, and has the potential to create approximately 265 jobs upon completion. The process for making the composite material recycles plastic grocery bags, plastic cartons and wood fiber, fusing it into a wood-like material for building.

As with any manufacturing operation, area environmentalists are concerned about the danger it poses to the Illinois River.

“We are making it our commitment to get zero discharge from the plant over time,” said Drinkwater. “We’re not there yet, but it is our plan.”

OSRC Commissioner Ed Brocksmith, also a member of STIR, is concerned about the location of the operation, and asked why AERT chose this specific area.

“The Brooks Family owned the land and are large stockholders in the company,” said Drinkwater. We are fairly landlocked in Springdale, and needed to locate somewhere we could grow and expand.”

Brocksmith pointed out the Illinois River Watershed is “one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the Southwest.”

“And you’re wanting to put a facility adjacent to that watershed,” said Brocksmith. “Can you assure the OSRC and the people of Oklahoma that this factory, having located to a scenic river, will not nor ever will have an adverse impact on the river?”

Drinkwater said he believed he could.

“Just like our commitment is to recycling water on-site,” said Drinkwater. “Part of our concern was application of water to pastures well away from the river; however, that’s against Oklahoma rules. Maybe in the future we can solicit your support in finding ways to best handle the situation.”

Tim Ward, of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, was on hand to answer commissioner’s questions concerning permitting and discharge from the factory.

“ODEQ will require specific permits that will include a priority pollutant scan,” said Ward. “There are a number of permits AERT will have to obtain before operations can begin. One significant issue is that not one drop of storm water can leave the property; that means not one drop from a roof or from a vehicle leaving the property. It’s up to AERT to prove to the ODEQ they have zero discharge. They have to have the facilities to contain stormwater that runs from the facility.”

Ward said ODEQ has been working with AERT on permitting issues, as they have questions about containment. Representatives from both ODEQ and AERT are to meet again April 25 to discuss the matter, and AERT has three permits to obtain before they can proceed.

STIR has hired a consultant, Tom Alexander, a hydrologist from Tulsa, to investigate the potential hazards a manufacturing plant could pose to the watershed.