HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-98
RESOLUTION 17-98
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, urging the Washington State Department of Ecology
to retain lead agency status in the Rayonier Mill site contamination
clean up effort.
WHEREAS, the mission and the goals of the City of Port Angeles provide for the creation
of family wage jobs at the Rayonier Mill industrial site and improvement of the financial stability of
Port Angeles; and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Rayonier pulp mill eliminated approximately 365 family
wage jobs within Clallam County; and
WHEREAS, Rayonier is willing and able to complete the demolition of the mill and clean
up of the mill site so that the property can be returned to productive use and support new
industry and jobs; and
WHEREAS. the Washington State Department of Ecology has been heavily involved in
the oversight of the clean up process and is capable of ensuring that the site is cleaned up to
standards established by the Model Toxics Control Act [MTCA], and;
WHEREAS, MTCA is more stringent in many areas than federal standards for clean up of
contamination, and;
WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] is investigating the
site for possible listing as a superfund site and would potentially replace the Department of
Ecology as the lead agency for oversight of the clean up process; and
WHEREAS, the EPA has a history of creating significant delays in clean up efforts; and
WHEREAS, it is extremely important to the economic well being of the City of Port
Angeles that this industrial property be returned to productive use as soon as possible and that
the environmental concerns of the community are considered;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Port Angeles City Council urges
the Washington State Department of Ecology to retain lead agency status in the clean up effort of
the Rayonier Mill and urges the United States Environmental Protection Agency to allow the
State to manage this clean up and to support the State's efforts.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the 4th day of August, 1998.
ATTEST:
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tson, City Attorney
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