Now there are those who are looking for a scapegoat. There is even a blog which wants to hold Richard Marks responsible and recall him because of supposed secret information he had about these tanks. While we have not always agreed with Richard Marks on every issue, We would challenge those people who are pointing the finger at Richard to turn the finger around and point it at themselves. This community in general and members of the Water Board and the Air Board and local politicians have turned a blind eye to pollution at the mill site in favor of money. There were even environmental groups who were willing to support the opening of a new pulp mill at the Samoa site.
There are those of us who have gone to the meetings of the Air Board and the Water Board. They let us speak our three minutes and then voted for variances that let the mill bypass environmental laws and for more permits. While Evergreen Pulp was polluting our neighborhoods, people went before the Air Board. Many of them had severe health problems that were worsened by the toxic gases coming from the mill. They came with walkers and breathing apparatuses and asked that the regulatory agencies stop the toxic emissions. They were ignored. They stopped coming to the meetings.
We soon learned that no one wanted to hear about the dangers of the toxins at the mill. Politicians didn't want to hear. Eyes would glaze over. We were treated as if we were crazy. Once Evergreen Pulp left town without paying the mill workers or fines owed the Water Board, it was as if the mill was gone. It was seldom mentioned in the Times Standard. Like a problem relative, it was seldom mentioned.
Thank you E.P.A. for stepping in. Now we need them to look at the mill site as a whole.