PORT ANGELES — A technical adviser to Olympic Environmental Council, who is advocating complete removal of contaminated materials from the former Rayonier mill site, will discuss his findings and answer questions at two programs this week.
Webinars with Peter deFur — owner of Environmental Stewardship Concepts LLC of Richmond, Va., and scientific consultant to Olympic Environmental Council — will be open to the public at two free forums, both from noon to 1 p.m.
The first is Monday in the Little Theater on the Peninsula College campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd. and the second is Friday only online.
Olympic Environmental Council, Friends of Ennis Creek and Peninsula College Associated Student Council are sponsoring the first session, for which no registration is needed.
Northwest Toxic Communities Coalition and the University of Washington Superfund Research Program are joining Olympic Environmental Council to host the Friday session, for which participants must register in advance since it is limited to 100 people.
To register, go to event briterayonier.
The state Department of Ecology agreed at the end of October to extend the comment period on its proposed $24 million cleanup plan for the long-dormant 75-acre Rayonier pulp mill site and adjacent waters of Port Angeles Harbor at the request of Darlene Schanfald of the Olympic Environmental Council Coalition.
The public comment period, originally set to end Oct. 28, now will end Nov. 26, allowing 90 days for comments.
For information on the plan, and to comment, see rayonierplan.
Ecology plans to excavate more than 1 foot of 0.5 acres of mill site, while 10 acres would be excavated to 1 foot on an industrial section that is mostly covered with cement. Another 10 acres of polluted area would be capped.
Schanfald wants to see all contaminated soil removed from the site, which Rebecca Lawson, Ecology’s southwest region manager, said is not required and not “practicable.”
Schanfald said she will submit deFur’s technical report — which can be seen at defurreport and is available at Peninsula College and the Port Angeles Library — to Ecology with a cover letter signed by at least 60 individuals and nonprofit organizations.
The letter makes several points about alternatives to Ecology’s plan and urges the state to “hold Rayonier to the best cleanup option. Protect our natural resources, our wildlife, and our public health. Get this done well and soon.”
