Department of Ecology News Release - October 19, 2007

07-316

Public invited to share input on "footprint" project at Port Angeles mill

OLYMPIA - Port Angeles area residents are invited to a public meeting on Oct. 26 where they can learn about and share their input on the Industrial Footprint Project at Nippon Paper Industries USA pulp and paper mill.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Nippon Paper are partnering on the unique project to measure the company's environmental, economic and social "footprint." The Port Angeles mill has volunteered, along with three other mills in the state, to provide baseline data to Ecology on a range of indicators.

Working with a consultant, stakeholders and the participating mills, Ecology will use the data to create a scoring system to establish a "footprint" measurement for each facility. The footprint will serve as a baseline to help companies set targets for improving over time.

The Port Angeles mill meeting will be at Port Angeles City Hall, 321 E. 5th Street, Council Chambers, Friday, Oct. 26, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is for those interested in the Industrial Footprint Project at Nippon Paper to learn more about the project, and to make suggestions about performance indicators and project strategies.

Project stakeholders especially encouraged to attend include: mill employees and neighbors, local community members, labor union representatives, public interest and environmental organizations, local government representatives, business and civic leaders, school and youth representatives and members of the general public.

A survey will be available on the Internet later this fall. Follow-up public meetings will be held in the spring. A final stakeholder involvement report for the project will be published in May 2008.

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Media Contacts:
Kathy Davis, media relations, 206-407-6149
Marc Crooks, Solid Waste Program, 360-407-6934

For more information: Footprint Project webpage: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/IndFootprint.html