Friday, November 18, 2016 11:15 am

VALPARAISO, Indiana (From The Times) -- Indiana state environmental officials announced Thursday they found no air quality violations while recently investigating odor complaints at the local Pratt Industries facility.

An investigator with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said he did not detect any odors when visiting the corrugated box manufacturing and paper recycling plant Oct. 27, according to his report.

As was the case with an earlier report from an IDEM water investigator, company officials said a higher capacity aerator is planned for January, and there is a possibility a geodesic dome will be installed in the spring to curb odors. Company officials said previously they were aware of the odor complaints.

The air inspector recommended permanently closing the complaints.

Michael O'Regan, director of media affairs for Pratt, has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the issue.

The state inspectors were notified about the ongoing odor complaints by Porter County government.

Morgan Township resident Craig Kenworthy described the odor as a sulfur smell and told The Times he can smell it at his home 2 miles southeast of the plant.

Porter County Councilman Jim Biggs, R-1st, said he has been hearing complaints since the start of the year about the odors.

Company officials told a state water inspector that faulty equipment may be at least partly to blame for odor complaints

Company officials said two of four blowers in the plant's aeration system failed Sept. 13, "causing portions of the process to become septic," according to the water report.

The two blowers have been repaired, according to IDEM. The company also told the investigator a spare mixer was out for maintenance when the odor was detected.

Pratt unveiled its new $250 million recycle paper mill at the site in March, which was billed as the world's most modern, environmentally friendly paper mill. It was built next to the company's corrugated box plant.

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Join Jim Thompson on the 2nd Annual Papermakers Mission Trip to Guatemala, 22 - 29 July 17. Build houses, talk about the pulp and paper industry. For more information, email jthompson@taii.com with "Guatemala" in the subject line.