HomeMy WebLinkAbout073125 - Please comment to Ecology on the Rayonier Pulp Mill cleanup planALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Advocating for environment priorities on the Olympic Peninsula and across Clallam and Jefferson counties
<https://www.sierraclub.org/washington>
<https://www.portangelesgardenclub.org/2024-streamfest.html>
Please comment to Ecology on the Rayonier Pulp Mill cleanup plan
The Rayonier Pulp Mill in Port Angeles polluted state and federal natural resources. Thus, we all can comment. The WA State Department of Ecology needs to hear from many, many citizens
and organizations that a full cleanup is needed; not a partial one that cover-up the pollution.
Attached is a brief history of the struggle over decades to get this cleanup moving. I am providing information that will help you comment and have highlighted/bulleted the main issues
of concern.
All documents for review are here: <https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=go.ecology.wa.gove%2F2270>
* Interim Cleanup Action Plan
* SEPA
* Agreed Order
Another document available for review is:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF GETTING THE RAYONIER PULP MILL CLEANUP <http://drive.google.com/file/d/1DNgpiNIUThFT-XMpHpqB4LPgasoAyQAr/view?usp=sharing>
Comment deadline is August 12 by 11:59 PM.
You can watch the Port Angeles City presentation of July 22 on its YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nxhZ6o4wIQ> .
(I sound garbled, as did some of the audience speakers. It would have been better not to speak right into the mic. At least, mostly, I only had to say “next slide” and the slides are
visible.)
Please send comments to Ecology: Marian Abbett <MABB461@ECY.WA.GOV> and cc. casey.sixkiller@ecy.wa.gov
Mr Sixkiller is Ecology’s Director and can influence his staff, so he needs to hear the wishes of the community.
Port Angeles City Council: Direct staff to submit comments to department of Ecology requesting a complete, timely and high quality cleanup of the Rayonier site including a request that
Ecology select disproportionate cost analysis alternative 5. (Motion carried 5-0) July 22, 2025
This is a list of talking points to consider in your letter:
* Support the Port Angeles City Council decision - Option 5
* Tell Ecology to factor in to its cleanup cost analysis impacts to fish, wildlife, the environment and human health
* Support a full cleanup, not a coverup of soils and sediments. Remove all contaminated soils and sediments.
* • Oppose leaving contaminated soils and sediment; then having to monitor them for 30 years.
* Support short- and long-term protection of the environment and public health; not a cheaper cleanup cost for Rayonier
* Remove all soils from the remaining concrete pad built hundreds of feet over the Harbor on fill that once held Rayonier’s pulp mill
* Do not pile onto the concrete pad toxic sediments or wharf infrastructure; send these to appropriate hazardous waste landfills.
* Remove the concrete pad and restore the original shoreline now under the foundation
* As soon as possible relieve remove that dock pilings covered with creosote that is harmful to fish and other marine life.
* Ensure Ennis Creek is restored to its original shape and given space to continue the movement essential for a salmon stream
* Recreate the brackish water at the mouth of Ennis Creek for the salmon
* Support returning this area to its natural state to attract wildlife and connect it with the wildlife corridor to the east towards Sequim and Jefferson County.
* Oppose rebuilding on the site. Construction will face the same climate conditions as the mill infrastructure -- sea level rise, storm surges, tsunamis, earthquakes,
* Ensure the Natural Resource Damage Assessment parties complete their work for cleaning up and providing other restoration for federal resources contaminated by the Rayonier Pulp Mill.
The decision makers are NOAA, USFWS, the Klallam Tribes and WA State Ecology
* Support solid and high fencing surround the upland polluted area along with large signs that fully inform the public of the cleanup and the importance of staying off the site.
* Keep the public updated as the cleanup moves forward.
Darlene Schanfald, Ph.D.
Chair, Sierra Club North Olympic Group
darlenes@olympus.net
360-681-7565
<https://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe94137277610c7d76/m/2/12228ae2-dbd1-49a1-aa38-0f2aafb8d52d.jpg>
________________________________
The North Olympic Group's website contains a blog that's updated to reflect current environmental issues and events. Members are encouraged to periodically check it out.
North Olympic Group Website <http://www.sierraclub.org/washington/north-olympic>
<https://www.sierraclub.org/washington>
<https://twitter.com/SierraClubWASt>
This email was sent to: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
This email was sent by the Sierra Club Washington State Chapter
180 Nickerson St, Suite 202, Seattle, WA 98109
Unsubscribe <https://cloud.emails.sierraclub.org/chapter-unsubscribe?qs=c143e1a8ee2d832df0d4f51caa73c7e31512913ef76511aaf7c8bde82a7dc621a782b7f0db15eefb50d450a266a9542a739d76a7cce1cd53f313b352fdc218b
0c91a8c9159c4f9e37d95e16e231ad339612e265b50f3df6c989aac19ab1b93ae2304d0ba68c2b9b60954a4a1ccbf63e4470f568782c1878b> | Manage Preferences <https://cloud.emails.sierraclub.org/manage-preferences?qs=c14
3e1a8ee2d832df0d4f51caa73c7e31512913ef76511aaf7c8bde82a7dc621a782b7f0db15eefb50d450a266a9542a739d76a7cce1cd53f313b352fdc218b0c91a8c9159c4f9e37d95e16e231ad339612e265b50f3df6c989aac19ab1b93ae2304d0ba68
c2b9b60954a4a1ccbf63e4470f568782c1878b> | View as web page <https://view.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=c76f70547fa2c73310b0596a23278cfa050579eb5d3d070548ef0af69b09885a046147e4b2a23ddc2a42f410aa63e0cfdcd
6680f33e350d8e556f404306f914a3156430d1aeafbd6>
<https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/open.aspx?ffcb10-fe8f10737062017574-fe2e15727d640578761c75-fe94137277610c7d76-ff6210717d-fe5810797460007b771d-ffcd16&d=70248&bmt=0>