PORT ANGELES — The City Council will once again consider paying up to $224,500 for a new permit for its sewage overflow elimination project after rejecting the state Department of Ecology mandate last week.
City Manager Kent Myers said the issue will be on the council’s Aug. 2 meeting, which an Ecology staff member is expected to attend.
The council voted 3-3 Tuesday against paying for the additional permit, which is supposed to address a stormwater management permit for construction of new sewer pipes along the contaminated former Rayonier site.
City Council members Max Mania, Brad Collins and Cherie Kidd voted no. Deputy Mayor Don Perry was absent.
Previously, Ecology had told the city that its existing stormwater management permit was sufficient.
Ecology staff will write a letter explaining why the department is requiring the new permit, Myers said.
An Ecology spokesperson did not return a phone call Friday requesting comment.
Possible appeal?
Myers told the council Tuesday that Ecology is requiring the more expensive permit out of concern that the existing permit would be appealed.
The Olympic Environmental Council has unsuccessfully appealed permits for the project twice.
Although Rayonier is expected to reimburse the city for some of the cost, several council members voiced concern over the additional expense Tuesday.
“I feel like we have a hammer over our heads at [Ecology],” Councilman Pat Downie said.
“It’s always our skin that gets bruised,” he later added.
How much Rayonier would pay remains to be determined.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
