PORT ANGELES — Some petroleum-contaminated soil from the site of the former Rayonier pulp mill could be going into the city’s landfill before the dump closes at the end of this year.
Rayonier Inc. is seeking a shoreline substantial development permit from the city to excavate and transport about 7,000 cubic yards of soil from two areas at its mill site at 700 N. Ennis St.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the permit application at 6 p.m. June 14 in the council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
Comments are due by 5 p.m. May 29 to the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
‘Interim action’
“It’s another interim action. We’ve done several of these before in places we think need cleanup and don’t want to wait until the end of this interminable process we’re in,” said Dana Dolloff, Rayonier environmental affairs director.
The soil contains mostly hydraulic oil and other contaminants that are suitable to go to the landfill, he said.
“It’s a good deal for the city because we pay them for it, and it’s a good deal for us because it will be less expensive to send it there than Oregon or elsewhere,” Dolloff said.
The city is closing its landfill at the end of West 18th Street at the end of the year and replacing it with a transfer station, composting operation and moderate-risk waste disposal operation.
Transport to Oregon
The garbage will be trucked to Tacoma, taken by rail to Vancouver, Wash., and barged up the Columbia River to the Finley Butte Regional Landfill in Boardman, Ore.
Associate City Planner Scott Johns said the soils will include mostly petroleum contamination from a fuel tank on the west end of the Rayonier property toward the base of bluff, and one at the old wood mill.
“The intent is getting rid of those heavy petroleum contaminated soils,” Johns said.
“We’re not looking at PCBs.”
