Managing director Greg L'Estrange hoped public confidence in the mill would be stronger following this decision.

``Gunns is as anxious as EPA Tasmania that the public can be absolutely confident that the mill is safe and that its operations will be carefully and closely monitored to retain that confidence,'' Mr L'Estrange said.

Gunns requested a variation to the permit in April and asked for it to be limited to plantation-only feedstock and include

an accounting method for some chemical emissions.

EPA Tasmania director Alex Schaap said the authority had

stuck by its draft decision and deemed the special conditions unnecessary.

Mr Schaap said five groups commented on the draft proposal.

``After carefully considering them I have concluded that they do not raise any new issues warranting any change to previous stated intent,'' he said.

Mr Schaap said the submissions and considerations of the issues raised are addressed in the Director's final decision on www.epa.tas.gov.au