Port Angeles Rayonier Mill

Documents available for review:

• Consent Decree (6.4 MB): To move the cleanup forward, Ecology will enter into a legal agreement called a consent decree with the parties responsible for cleanup — Rayonier A.M. Properties LLC and Rayonier Advanced Materials (collectively referred to as “RAMP” or “Rayonier”). The consent decree is a legal agreement that would require RAMP to carry out Ecology’s Interim Action Plan.

• Draft Interim Action Plan (12.6 MB): Ecology’s proposed cleanup plan for the study area. It includes a schedule and cleanup requirements.
• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Non-Significance (2.4 MB): Ecology determined the proposed cleanup is not likely to cause significant environmental harm. We considered environmental, historical, and cultural factors in this process.

A fact sheet (1.6 MB) summarizing these documents is available to help guide your review. We are also holding an open house to discuss the documents.

After the public comment period, we will carefully consider and respond to comments. We will finalize the documents, including any changes based on public comments, then file with the Superior Court for entry as an Order. At that point, Rayonier will submit required cleanup plans to Ecology following the schedule outlined in the consent decree and Interim Action Plan.

Background

The Rayonier Mill study area is located on the northern Olympic Peninsula along the Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline. It is on the east side of Port Angeles Harbor, mostly within the City of Port Angeles.

The study area lies within the traditional territory of the Klallam and S’Klallam people. The Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes have reserved treaty rights in the region. This cleanup is situated near I’e’nis, a historically significant Klallam village.

Industrial activity began in 1887 with a sawmill, followed by a government-built spruce mill in 1917. In 1929, the study area was converted into a pulp mill, which Rayonier purchased in the 1930s and operated until 1997. While the mill produced specialty pulp, it also released harmful chemicals into the environment.

Stay informed

To receive updates about this site and other cleanup efforts in Port Angeles:

• Visit the Rayonier Mill project home page for more information about the cleanup and public involvement opportunities.
• Join the Cleanups in Port Angeles email list.
• Subscribe for updates on Ecology’s Rayonier Mill cleanup page. Subscribers will receive a weekly automated email update whenever there is a comment period, a new document, or an update to the cleanup details. For more information about this new subscription tool, please visit Ecology’s blog.
• View our 2024 status update on Port Angeles cleanup sites.