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Department of Ecology News Release - February 19, 2008
08-042
OLYMPIA – Port Townsend area residents are invited to two public meetings, Feb. 28 and Mar. 4, where they can learn about and share their input on the Industrial Footprint Project at Port Townsend Paper Corporation’s (PTPC) pulp and paper mill.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and PTPC are partnering on the unique project to measure the company’s environmental, economic and social “footprint.” The Port Townsend mill has volunteered, along with four other mills in the state, to provide baseline data to Ecology on a range of indicators.
Working with consultant Earth Economics, 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 meetings are scheduled for Thurs., Feb. 28 and Tues., March 4 at the Erickson Building Dance Hall on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on 4907 Landes. Both meetings begin at 6 p.m.
During the first meeting, participants will learn about the Industrial Footprint Project at the Port Townsend mill. The second meeting is for those interested in making suggestions about performance indicators and project strategies.
Project stakeholders especially encouraged to attend: 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 after the second meeting. Follow-up public meetings are planned for the spring. A final stakeholder involvement report for the project is slated for publication in May 2008.
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Media Contacts:
Kim Schmanke, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6239
Carol Kraege, Ecology Industrial Section, 360-407-6906
Chuck Madison, Port Townsend Paper, 360-379-2155
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/IndFootprint.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
