In recent weeks members of the Sequim City Council have received comments and concerns from citizens regarding the biomass plant at Nippon Paper Industries in Port Angeles and how that might affect the air quality in the City of Sequim and Sequim-Dungeness Valley.
In response to citizen input, the City Council formed a sub-committee to organize a public forum to learn more about biomass burning, the Nippon project, and the potential risk to Sequim citizens.
The first step in the process was to hear from Nippon Plant Manager, Harold Norlund, who gave a presentation to the Sequim City Council at a public study session prior to the April 23, 2012 City Council Meeting.
After hearing Mr. Norlund’s presentation and obtaining a greater understanding of the process the Nippon Plant has successfully completed to receive their permits from the City of Port Angeles and ORCAA, it became clear to the Sequim City Council members that this is not a City of Sequim issue, but rather a larger, regional issue and should be addressed by the agencies that monitor air quality in Clallam County. The City of Sequim is not the permitting agency and has no regulatory authority in this matter. We respect the judgment of City of Port Angeles and the decisions they have made for their city.
The Sequim City Council is committed to providing an opportunity for local citizens to learn more about this issue and would be happy to host a forum in the City of Sequim that is organized by the regional agencies that are responsible for air quality in Sequim and the surrounding area.