$9.3 M Settlement Finalized for Restoration at Western Port Angeles Harbor Hazardous Waste Site, Washington

JUNE 14, 2021 ─ On June 9, 2021, the U.S Department of Justice entered two consent decrees valued at $9.3 million for settlement with companies, a local municipality, and a port district responsible for hazardous waste pollution in Western Port Angeles Harbor in Washington. This announcement follows the lodging of these two consent decrees on March 26, 2021 and a public commenting period.

Aerial view of land, facility, and surrounding water.
2016 Aerial view of Nippon Mill and Lagoon at the Western Port Angeles Waste Site. Image credit:NOAA.

Since the early 1900s, pulp and paper mills and other industrial facilities discharged effluents into Port Angeles Harbor. These discharges have resulted in harbor sediments contaminated by heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, and petrochemicals. These finalized settlements will be used to fund projects that restore natural resources injured by hazardous waste pollution

NOAA worked in partnership with our natural resource co-trustees, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, the U.S FIsh and Wildlife Service, and the Washington State Department of Ecology to reach this agreement and develop restoration plans.

For more information please contact Robert.Neely@noaa.gov.

Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:43pm PST