PORT ANGELES — A chemical analysis is being conducted on a mysterious black, mushy substance that is lining the stormwater-ditch drainage system on the edge of a log yard at the Port of Port Angeles’ William R. Fairchild International Airport.
“We have a mystery substance we are investigating,” said John Nutter, port director of finance and administration.
“It’s like very wet cardboard.”
Five samples of the odorless black material were drawn Friday morning from the ditch system on the edges of log yard property that Port Angeles-based Merrill &Ring Inc. leases from the port off the entrance road to the airport.
The testing, conducted by Zenovic &Associates Inc. of Port Angeles, should be completed by Wednesday, Nutter said late Friday.
“I’m thinking it’s some combination of water, bark and pitch off the logs is my guess,” Nutter said. “I don’t have any idea why it appeared.”
He said it does not appear to be oil or gas.
“To the best of our knowledge, it does not look or feel or smell like anything that is hydrocarbon-based. We don’t know what it is, and we very much look forward to getting the results back.”
Nutter said a resident notified the port of the substance Thursday.
Merrill &Ring officials did not return calls for comment Friday.
Nutter said company officials had told port officials that there had been no oil spill or other contamination event on the property.
Port officials who inspected the property said there were no apparent hydraulic-equipment leaks.
“They would be liable for cleanup if it’s shown to have originated from them and it’s shown to be a contaminant, but so far, we don’t even know what it is,” Nutter said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
