Ecology tracks cleanup of Rayonier Mill

By MIKEL BAXTER
Department of Ecology

One of Washington's newest and most controversial environmental cleanup projects is gaining momentum in Port Angeles at the site of the former pulp mill operated by Rayonier, Inc.

The 75-acre mill finally closed its doors in March of 1997, after 67 years of operations that are believed to have contaminated soil, air and water in and around the mill.

The state Department of Ecology and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe are working together under Washington's toxics cleanup law to investigate and clean up chemical contamination at the site of the now-demolished mill. The tribe's involvement is a true benchmark: This is the first time a tribal government has been in a co-regulatory role with state government.

The tribe is a key player because it has many interests that may be affected during the course of the cleanup, including tribal burial sites, traditional cultural properties, archeological resources, human health and fisheries. Rayonier, Inc., the owner responsible for paying for the cleanup, is also very involved in the process.

Cleaning up the site will be no small matter. It may take four years to get through the investigation and planning phases.

In its hey-day, the Rayonier Mill was the largest private employer on the north Olympic Peninsula. It was a friend to the local economy but many considered it a foe to the environment. The 75-acre mill finally closed its doors in March of 1997 after 67 years of operations that are believed to have adversely impacted soil, air and water in and around the mill.

Rayonier's industrial legacy during this time frame is not unique. Many other industries were causing similar environmental problems during these decades.

Over the years, the mill received hemlock logs and chips that were processed into pulp. The processing involved chemical baths, pressurized steam heating, chemical bleaching and water rinses, compressed rolling and

centrifugal drying. The finished pulp -- a cellulose -- was flattened into sheets and stacked into bales. Bales were shipped to manufacturers for use in making paper and plastic products.

Industrial chemicals were used in the pulp-making process. In the early years, liquid wastes and spent cooking liquor were discharged untreated directly into the Port Angeles Harbor. Treatment of waste water did not begin until the 1970s. At that time primary and secondary treatment systems were established and discharges were routed through a deep-water outfall more than a mile offshore in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Sludges from the treatment system were added to hog fuel and burned to generate steam. Potential contamination requiring cleanup at the mill site includes petroleum hydrocarbons such as hydraulic or fuel oil; polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs from electrical equipment; lead from a lead-based mortar between bricks inside the digester; and dioxins/furans from ash.

Responding to a citizen's petition in 1997, the EPA investigated the site for qualification as a federal Superfund cleanup site. However, earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deferred the Superfund designation and the state took the lead in the cleanup under the state's Model Toxics Control Act.

Potential contamination includes petroleum hydrocarbons such as hydraulic or fuel oil; polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs from electrical equipment; lead from a lead-based mortar between bricks inside the digester; and dioxins/furans from ash.

Ecology and the tribe are seeking broad-based public participation during the investigation and cleanup of the site. Inclusive public participation is necessary to ensure that sound decisions are made that will withstand public scrutiny. Public participation provides a means by which public's concerns, needs and values are identified prior to decisions, so decisions reflect -- to the extent possible given environmental, financial, legal and technical constraints -- the view of the public.

Ecology has prepared a public participation plan that describe the baseline steps that will be taken to involve the community in investigation and cleanup decisions. The plan provides provide interested parties with a "road map" for the cleanup process and identifies opportunities to provide input on workplans, studies, proposals and decisions.

As a part of the public participation plan, Ecology and the tribe will be holding workshops and public meetings to discuss the steps in the cleanup project and the issues associated with them. It is important to Ecology that views of the many different interests in the Port Angeles area are heard. No decisions will be made without broad opportunities for public participation.