SEQUIM — The Sequim City’s Council’s cancellation of a forum on biomass cogeneration drew protests from members of the Clallam County Healthy Air Coalition and other residents, while council members said the decision was made because the issue does not come under its authority.
“We believed the city of Sequim when it said it wanted to offer its citizens a chance to hear both sides of this biomass issue,” said Diana Somerville of Port Angeles, spokeswoman for the Clallam County Healthy Air Coalition.
“In fact, we advertised the city’s upcoming forum and trusted the city to keep its word,” she added.
“The people of Sequim are feeling very betrayed.”
Mayor Ken Hays said the council decided “there should be a problem we’re trying to solve if we’re going to spend that kind of time.
“If there isn’t, I don’t think it’s responsible to spend the public’s assets,” Hays added.
“As a governing agency, I don’t see how we can take a stand on a project that’s already been approved by agencies and authorities that are many levels above our level of government.”
The town hall meeting had been set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 14, at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
It was to focus on the $71 million expansion of biomass facilities at Nippon Paper Industries USA Inc. in Port Angeles, which is expected to be completed in 2013.
Among those invited to speak had been Mark Goodin, principle engineer with Olympic Region Clean Air Agency; Bob Lynette, whose 30-year career in the energy field includes engineering and project feasibility studies; and former Port Townsend Mayor Dr. Kees Kolff, a retired pediatrician with public health experience.
The Port Angeles project, as well as a biomass expansion under way at the Port Townsend Paper mill, has been fought by a coalition of environmental groups with health concerns about the facilities.
On Monday at a study session preceding its regular meeting, the Sequim City Council listened to a presentation by Harold Norlund, manager of the Nippon mill, about the biomass project.
At the regular meeting after the work session, council members decided by consensus to cancel the forum. No vote was taken.
“It is a collective change of mind,” said Councilwoman Candace Pratt, who served with council members Laura Dubois and Erik Erichsen on a subcommittee organizing the forum.
Pratt, who said the forum had been firmly scheduled, added Wednesday that she had reversed course with regret.
Reverses with regret
“I wanted it to happen, but when it became clear that it wasn’t a city function, that we don’t have any authority over it, then I agreed that we’d have to give it up.”
Pratt said ORCAA and other key players were informed Monday.
“The plant has been permitted by [the state Department of] Ecology and ORCAA following the latest regulations,” Pratt said.
“If those need to be changed, then pressure has to be exerted upon them to strengthen permitting requirements in line with the best available science,” she said.
“Most meaningful to me is that Nippon will have to conform when stiffer requirements for cogeneration plants are in place by the governing agencies,” she added.
“That assured me that our citizens will not be ignored.”
Without prior notice
Both Somerville and Port Angeles environmental lawyer Shirley Nixon, who was preparing background information for the forum, said the wishes of the public were ignored — and that the action was taken without prior notice.
The city issued notice of a study session with Norlund but did not give prior notice that a decision would be made.
“This smacks of manipulation behind the scenes,” Nixon said.
“People did not expect this,” she added. “It hurts public trust in government.”
Both Hays and Pratt said they hoped some other group would sponsor a forum.
Said Hays: “If people want to have a forum, that’s fine.
“I think people should be concerned about this.
“We simply don’t have control over it.”
The Clallam County Healthy Air Coalition, which opposes the biomass facility expansion, will host a free presentation, “Biomass 101: For Families,” at the Sequim Public Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.