[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

[Guest post by Xandra Grube.]

On January 27, 2010, Freshwater Tissue Company owner Bob Simpson applied for a permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) to discharge waste water from the proposed production of toilet paper at the Samoa Pulp Mill property into the Pacific Ocean. On March 29, 2010, the Water Board sent a letter advising interested parties that a draft NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit is available for review and that the Water Board will consider the draft permit and associated order at its June 10, 2010, meeting.

The letter states that the Freshwater Tissue Company (FTC) has already “acknowledged that it cannot immediately comply with the applicable Effluent Limitation Guidelines established for the production of Bleached Kraft Pulp and Unbleached Kraft Pulp.” Therefore, the letter states, the Water Board is proposing a “companion cease and desist order” the specifics of which are not yet available. Presumably, the cease and desist order is intended to be in place until the mill is able to meet the discharge requirements. The letter states that unless there is “significant public comment“ or objection from the federal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), a permit adopted on June 10, 2010, will become effective on that date. The public comment period will end on April 29, 2010.

At an informational hearing held on March 25, 2010, at the Wharfinger Building, Water Board staffer Charles Reed summarized the history of the Samoa Pulp Mill with regard to waste water discharge requirements and violations. This mill has continuously been in violation of water quality standards. He also stated that the federal regulators want all pulp mills to comply equally to standards, i.e., a pulp mill in Virginia or Indiana should not be impacting the population surrounding it any more or less than a pulp mill in California does.

Many people in the know do not believe the pulp mill will be able to reopen because there are so many agencies whose standards and requirements need to be met. However, it appears that some directive is coming down from the governor’s office to expedite the reopening of the pulp mill by putting the mill on a schedule of compliance. Given the past history of violations of water and air quality standards, it looks like an enforcement nightmare ahead.

Love or hate the pulp mill, it’s been a main feature on the Eureka skyline for decades.

Eureka Books will display paintings of the mill for the March Arts Alive! starting tomorrow, March 6th. Featured artists include Linda Mitchell, Jim McVicker, Stock and Rachel Schlueter, Amy Stewart, Alicia Tredway and Kathy O’Leary.

More information at Lost Coast Daily Painters.