Few local issues have attracted my ire as Rayonier’s disregard for environmental destruction on their former mill site.
Rayonier trashed its approximately 80-acre property before closing its mill in 1997. It paved over the salt marsh that Ennis Creek fish used as an estuary.
They straightened and narrowed the stream, causing washouts of spawning gravel, salmon eggs and even washed young salmon fry out into the harbor before they were ready to survive.
Creosote continues to leach into the harbor’s shoreline waters and the bay floor from more than 4,000 timber pilings.
None have been removed for even a modicum of site remediation.
Ecology has responsibility for the cleanup oversight, but Rayonier gets to provide planning and monitoring.
This arrangement smacks of fox in the hen house and has produced virtually no restoration progress.
Ecology’s last request for public input in 2019 was met with an overwhelming call for complete removal of all contaminants to an appropriate removal, such as one in eastern Oregon.
Ecology nixed this as too expensive and fraught with traffic disruption but, apparently, has not explored using Port of Port Angeles barges.
For those who value this amazing region where spectacular land meets both fresh and salt water, I encourage you to share your thoughts about preservation and responsible reclamation of Ennis Creek estuary and the adjacent harbor.
Please comment by Aug. 12 at https://go.ecology.wa.gov/2270 or email marian.abbett@ecy.wa.gov.
Jim Wesley
Port Angeles