A BIT OF HISTORY WAS ROLLED OUT AS PART OF THE FORTUNA AUTO EXPO.

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Opponents of the Marine Life Protection Act have a new blog and a petition that needs to be wrapped up by April 19.

The purpose of the website is to provide “information and conversation space for people who want to prevent the MLPA Initiative from closing all recreational and subsistence fishing, abalone diving, and mussel and seaweed harvest around the mouth of the Mattole and Punta Gorda.”

The petition can be found at these locations:

Petrolia Store
Honeydew Store
The Yellow Rose, Petrolia
Valley Grocery, Ferndale
Valley Lumber, Ferndale
Nielsen Co., Ferndale
R&S Livestock, Ferndale
The Palace, Ferndale
The VI, Ferndale
Grundman’s, Rio Dell
Murrish Market, Hydesville
Shamus T-Bones, Carlotta
Sport & Cycle, Fortuna
Napa Auto, Fortuna
Wildwood Saw Shop, Fortuna
Humboldt Creamery, Fernbridge
Bucksport, Eureka
Pro-Sport Center, Eureka
Humboldt Trade & Pawn, Eureka
Marcelli’s Shootery, Eureka
Mad River Outfitters, Arcata
Ace Hardware, Sunny Brae

[Freshwater Tissue Co. owner Bob Simpson responds to a recent guest post about the reopening of the mill.]

On behalf of Freshwater Tissue Company, I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to search for facts rather than recycle the same “Pulp Fiction” for decades.

For the sake of clarification, the only pollution standard the Samoa mill cannot comply with is biochemical oxygen demand “BOD”. In short, BOD is organic sugar. You could just as easily refer to BOD as fish food or plant nutrients. If the Samoa mill was discharging its pollution to the Eel River it would be a problem because both plants and fish thrive on it. Unfortunately, BOD causes plants/algae to grow, which then depletes oxygen and strangles fish. However, BOD in the Pacific Ocean is not an issue or concern due to the size of the receiving water (Pacific Ocean), and because the ocean constantly produces oxygen through wave action and tidal influence. In fact, studies have been conducted over 20 years, which you can confirm through Humboldt State University, that conclude the Samoa mill’s BOD has no oxygen impact to the receiving water, but the fish to thrive at the end of the outfall line. You could accuse the Samoa mill of chumming the fish!

The real issue with the Samoa mill is not about pollution, it is about a 37 year old antiquated EPA evaluation system that regulates BOD regardless of where pulp mill effluent is discharged, i.e., stream, river, lake, or ocean. As you might conclude, EPA’s antiquated regulation of BOD was, and it remains, a politically backed decision supported by industry lobbyist’s to eliminate a perceived environmental advantage over ocean discharging pulp mills, such as the Samoa mill, in comparison to competing pulp mills located on northwest rivers and lakes, and pulp mills located on the shores of the Great Lakes. There are only two pulp mills remaining on the west coast with ocean outfall lines. We are in fact trying to make sure the Samoa mill survives.

Lastly, you should not judge a pulp mill by its age. There haven’t been, nor will there be, any pulp mills constructed in the United States or Canada for over 20 years. A 45 year old pulp mill in North America is relatively young, environmentally superior to pulp mills located in South American and Asian, and the Samoa mill is run be experienced workers who care about the community and the environment that surrounds us. Are you aware Evergreen invested $26 million in environmental and quality improvement projects during its four years of operation? Did you know Louisiana-Pacific invested $175 million in environmental technology during its 28 years of ownership? FTC intends to invest $50 million in its first five years of ownership, most of which will be environmental investment. You shouldn’t judge the Samoa mill by its outer structure. Because the heart of the Samoa mill, which is its environmental technology, is as healthy as can be. To permanently close the Samoa mill would be a monumental mistake.

For those of you in our community too young to remember, a group of men intervened and rescued the Ingomar Club from extinction. We all know how the Ingomar has become an icon for Eureka, and it continues to bring enjoyment for its members. With the support of the entire community, the Samoa mill will set new environmental standards for the pulp industry, provide family wage jobs for 215 employees, and it will support landowners and sawmill owners by providing a market for tanoak logs and pulp chips. Our community needs another Ingomar type story. Remember, United we stand, divided we fall.

Bob Simpson – Freshwater Tissue Company