LONGVIEW, Washington (From news reports) -- Nippon Dynawave is resuming normal operations after problems at its wastewater treatment facility forced it temporarily curtail paper production last week.

Brian Wood, Nippon spokesman, said the mill was restarting normal operations Wednesday, but he declined further comment.

An unknown problem at Nippon's wastewater treatment system caused it to violate its wastewater discharge permit Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to the state Department of Ecology.

The mill reported violated limits for suspended solids it can release into the Columbia River on all three days, said Dave Bennett, Ecology spokesman.

"They stopped operations in order to come back in compliance within their limits, and at this point they're still investigating the cause," Bennett said.

The treatment plant services Nippon itself as well as other industrial sites nearby, including Weyerhaeuser Co., Norpac, Westlake Chemical (formerly Axiall Corp.) and Solvay Chemicals. So any problems at Nippon's facility could affect operations at those businesses, too.

In April and May, a problem at the wastewater plant forced Nippon and other companies to temporarily furlough employees, although Weyerhaeuser said it was unaffected.

On Wednesday, Weyerhaeuser reported that it was unaffected by Nippon's effluent problems. Norpac was affected, but the company said staffing wasn't abnormal.

"We are continuing to work closely with Nippon as their wastewater systems are fully restored. We expect to restart the one machine we have had down within the next few hours," said Craig Anneberg, CEO of Norpac early Wednesday evening.

"We are meeting all customer orders and are at full staffing," Anneberg added.

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