Communities for a Healthy Bay monitors WestRock paper mill

A message from the Executive Director

Hello friends,

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It has been over three months since WestRock officially announced their plans to close the Tacoma paper mill. Since that announcement, CHB has been tracking the closure of this plant closely, to understand the impacts on our community for workers, the environment, and for the future of the site. I want to share an update with you on the questions many community members have.

#1: Why does it look like the plant is still in operation?

The top question we have heard from community members is about the steam plumes that have continued long after WestRock ceased pulping activities around September 6, 2023. Here is what we’ve learned so far:

The steam plumes are the result of WestRock operating boilers to generate power for their decommissioning work and to sell back on the grid. Under their currently active air and water permits, WestRock is allowed to burn the remaining on-site hog fuel (a rough mix of wood fiber and chips) and wastewater treatment sludge from the paper pulping process.

Both hog fuel and wastewater sludge can have worrying emission profiles and we are trying to find out more about harm from that air pollution and how much longer we can expect it to continue.

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#2: Is the site contaminated, and if so, how will it be cleaned up?

The site is contaminated. The Department of Ecology is moving forward under the ModelToxics and Control Act (MTCA) to address potential contamination on the site. Ecology issued several Preliminary Determination of Liability letters on October 10, 2023 explaining that they had gathered credible evidence to find both WestRock CP, LLC and the Simpson Investment Company liable for the release of hazardous substances on the site, including (1) spilling 100,000 gallons of black liquor (a toxic byproduct of the pulping process) and onto the Puyallup River shoreline, (2) spilling 500gallons of 93% sulfuric acid onto soil, (3) unaddressed soil sampling that indicated worsening dioxin/furan contamination.

All potentially liable persons (PLPs) who are notified have 30 days (November 9) to either challenge or accept their liability before Ecology can begin the process of developing plans for a clean-up under MTCA. During the MTCA process, there will be several opportunities for public comment and engagement (seen as orange speech bubbles on this MTCA flow chart). CHB will continue tracking this site and reaching out to local communities to ensure that your voices are heard.

It is important to note that MTCA is a very slow-moving process, taking many years in most cases. There is an opportunity to develop a community-based advisory board for this process, and we’re assessing the need for this type of public engagement. If you would be interested in serving on such a board, please let me know.

For added context, while this will be the first MTCA process related to the WestRock site, it did go through the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) , also known as Superfund, process in the 1980s. This process encompassed the entirety of the Commencement Bay, Near Shore/Tideflats superfund site and the work done on the WestRock site focused solely on sediment contamination.

#3: What will happen to the site next?

We have been investigating what the future of the site might look like, and talking with community members, companies, the Tribe, Port, and City officials about this. We anticipate hosting community conversations about this over the next year, and hope you will engage with us on that.

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#4: How are the workers who lost their jobs?

We know the unions and Workforce Central stepped in to help workers right away. CHB has been watching for the impact this has had on workers at Westrock, and, where we can, connecting unions and hiring companies to ensure people find new job opportunities. From what we’ve heard, people have landed on their feet.

As Tacoma continues to envision its role in a changing climate and a greening economy, we know that our future is one where industry supports clean air and water, and supports a thriving community. We are hopeful that through this process, we can continue to shape a vibrant, sustainable, and healthy Tacoma for all.

I hope this helps answer questions you have. Please let me know if you have information to share or any further questions.

Sincerely,

Melissa Malott

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