Publication Summary

A Class II Inspection was conducted at the Port Townsend Paper Company pulp and paper mill just south of Port Townsend, Washington, on November 15-17, 1993. Related sediment sampling was conducted December 15. The combined process water and sanitary discharge met all NPDES permit requirements. The sanitary effluent was also well within all permit requirements.

A Class II Inspection was conducted at the Port Townsend Paper Company pulp and paper mill just south of Port Townsend, Washington, on November 15-17, 1993. Related sediment sampling was conducted December 15. The combined process water and sanitary discharge met all NPDES permit requirements. The sanitary effluent was also well within all permit requirements.

All VOA and BNA compounds found were within applicable EPA water quality criteria. No pesticide/PCB compounds were found in the influent or effluent. Five priority pollutant metals were detected in the effluent. Copper was found in an estimated concentration of over four times Ecology water quality criteria. The fathead minnow chronic test and bivalve larvae test demonstrated sensitivity to the pulp mill effluent.

No VOA compounds were detected in the sediment samples. All BNA compounds and metals detected were below Ecology Marine Sediment Quality Standards. No toxicity was found in the Microtox® test. Amphipod test results found one sample equal to 25 percent toxicity.