On Tuesday, July 22, the City of Port Angeles will host a Community Forum for residents to learn more about the Rayonier Mill Cleanup Project, next steps, and what it means for Port Angeles and the surrounding area.
The forum will be held as a special meeting of the City Council and include brief presentations from environmental organizations and subject matter experts. After the presentations, there will be a community Q&A session, followed by Council discussion. Residents are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and afterward, submit their public comments to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
- Tuesday, July 22
- 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- City Hall Council Chambers, 321 East 5th Street, Port Angeles
The official meeting agenda and options for online participation will be posted to the City’s website on Wednesday, July 16.
This community forum follows the Ecology-hosted Open House held on July 8 and will provide another valuable opportunity for residents to learn more about this critical project. It will also support the City and community members in developing actionable comments to submit to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Online participation is available for those unable to attend in person. A recording of the forum will also be made available on the City’s website and YouTube channel.
About the Rayonier Mill Cleanup
The Washington State Department of Ecology invites residents to take part in the next phase of the Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Cleanup Site. Since 1993, over 30,000 tons of contaminated soil have been removed from the upland areas of the site. Now, the Department of Ecology and Rayonier are proposing final cleanup actions to address the remaining contamination in both upland and marine areas.
For residents of Port Angeles and surrounding communities, this cleanup is critical to protecting local waterways, improving public health and safety, and supporting future economic development and growth. Your feedback is an important part of this process.
The Department of Ecology is seeking your input on the following project documents:
- Draft Interim Action Plan: Proposed cleanup plan for the area.
- Legal Agreement: A consent decree with parties responsible for the cleanup, which requires the parties to carry out the Interim Action Plan.
- State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Non-Significance: Ecology determined the proposed cleanup is not likely to cause significant harm.
These documents can be reviewed online or in-person at the Port Angeles Main Library (2210 S Peabody Street). The public comment period is open now through August 12, 2025. Comments can be submitted online, by email, or by mail to the WA Department of Ecology, PO Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504.
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