Thanks to all sending comments to the state Department of Ecology before the Aug. 12 deadline for saying how they want the property cleaned up where Rayonier shut down its mill in 1997.
Individual submissions came to about 300, with many from representatives of governments and organizations with numerous constituents and members.
None agreed with Ecology’s plan to place contaminants on about 10 acres of the former mill site.
People are especially worried about exposure to cancer-causing contaminants that could be released by sea-level rise, extreme weather, earthquakes, tsunamis and other disturbances.
You can read the comments at https://ecology.commentinput.com/comment/extra?id=aZSNQG5gb.
Some labeled anonymous actually represent numerous individuals in organizations and governments identified by scrolling far enough down those documents.
Others may have wanted anonymity.
Ecology has predicted it will provide responses by the end of this year.
Then we have to wait to find out if the agency will require Rayonier to pay to remove all contaminants instead of the less expensive alternative of covering and monitoring them.
If the agency doesn’t do what people who have been living with Rayonier’s contaminants for decades want, we will keep trying to make our voices heard.
We owe that to all who share our area and believe in justice for all — people, wildlife and others.
And now we can celebrate how our community has studied the issues and come together to take positive actions to protect our environment.
Robbie Mantooth
Port Angeles