Louisuiana-Pacific Accused of Falsifying Pollution Emission Data

A major shake-up at Louisiana-Pacific Corporation this summer was brought on, in part, by allegations of falsifying pollution emission data. The entire upper management team of L-P, including Chairman and President Harry Merlo (who led the company since its split from Georgia-Pacific in 1973 and who championed L-P’s leadership role in the move to OSB), was ousted by the Board of Directors at a late-July Board meeting, according to the September issue of

Panel World. In addition to claims of fudging pollution data, one of the company’s mills is accused of producing a special grade of OSB for submittal to testing agencies—referred to internally as “APA board” or “test board,” according to the article. Rick Davenport of L-P’s San Diego office told EBN that this shake-up will have no effect on Nature-Guard (L-P’s brand of cellulose insulation) or other recycled-content products the company is moving forward with.