Sep 21, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP), the largest producer of hardboard siding in North America, has committed to a significant investment in its highest-capacity hardboard mill. This investment in LP's Roaring River, North Carolina, mill will achieve compliance with new emissions limits, in accordance with a Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) requirement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "LP will make an investment of several million dollars in our hardboard mill in Roaring River, North Carolina, in order to achieve MACT compliance," said Brad Southern, vice president and general manager siding. Ben Skoog, brand manager, composite wood siding added, "LP is the leader in the hardboard market, and this effort demonstrates our commitment to support our customers' growth for years to come." The plywood and composite wood products MACT requirement, promulgated on July 30, 2004, requires wood products facilities to reduce emissions by September 2007. LP plans to complete its emissions reduction objectives by the first quarter of 2007, with further testing through September 2007. LP engaged RMT Inc., an environmental engineering and consulting firm, to work with the LP team in determining specific technology options to achieve the required MACT emission reductions. Acquired by LP in the purchase of ABTco in 1999, the 35-year-old mill has a production capacity of more than 250 million square feet of hardboard annually, and employs more than 400 people. "LP's investment is a vote of confidence in our operations, our employees and our community," said Roaring River plant manager Jim Reavis. LP hardboard siding is made by extracting fibers from wood, after which they are rewoven and bound under heat and pressure using resins and natural adhesives found in wood. The result is a uniform product free of many of wood's weaknesses such as knots and grain that may split in use. Hardboard-based siding is a true wood product; wood has simply been re-engineered to form a more versatile material with predictable properties. The absence of grain makes it equally strong in all directions; it is easily sawn, drilled, nailed and painted. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is a premier supplier of building products, delivering innovative, high-quality commodity and specialty products to its retail, wholesale, homebuilding and industrial customers.