Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Site

700 N Ennis Port Angeles, Clallam County
Facility Site ID: 19
Cleanup Site ID: 2270

  • Site Status

  • Cleanup Started

  • Brownfield

  • This site has received funding as part of our Brownfields Program.
    Brownfields Public Funding: $200,000.00

More about cleanup

June 12
8:00 am
–
Aug. 12
11:59 pm

Public Comment Period

We invite you to review and comment on documents, and attend an open house about the Rayonier Mill cleanup on the shores of Port Angeles. The study area of this site is moving to the next phase of cleanup. Your feedback is an important part of this process.

Documents Available for Review:

A fact sheet (download 1.6 MB) summarizing these documents is also available to help guide your review.

After the public comment period, we will carefully consider and respond to comments. We will finalize the documents, including any changes based on public comments, then file with the Superior Court for entry as an Order. At that point, Rayonier will submit required cleanup plans to Ecology following the schedule outlined in the consent decree and Interim Action Plan.

How to Submit Comments:

The public comment period is open from 8:00 AM on June 12, 2025 to 11:59 PM on August 12, 2025.

You can submit your comments to the Washington Department of Ecology using one of the following methods:

Public Meeting and Open House

Ecology will host a public meeting and open house during the comment period to provide information, answer questions, and accept written comments.

Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

  • Presentation begins at 6:00 PM followed by a Q&A session
  • Open house before and after the presentation

Location:
Field Arts & Events Hall, Donna M. Morris Theater
201 W Front Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Contact & Additional Information

For assistance or information regarding the public comment period:

For media inquiries:

Stay Informed:

To receive updates about this site and other cleanup efforts in Port Angeles:

  • Visit the Rayonier Mill project home page for the additional information about the cleanup and public involvement opportunities.
  • Join the Cleanups in Port Angeles email list.
  • Subscribe for updates using the blue "Subscribe to this site" button at the top of this page. Those subscribed will receive a weekly automated email update whenever there is a comment period, a new document, or an update to the cleanup details. For more information about this new subscription tool, please visit Ecology’s blog.
  • View our 2024 status update on Port Angeles cleanup sites.

Site Description

Rayonier Mill Study Area is located along the shoreline and in the eastern portion of Port Angeles Harbor. The Study Area includes a marine and an upland portion.
Rayonier Mill Study Area is located along the shoreline and in the eastern portion of Port Angeles Harbor. The Study Area includes a marine and an upland portion.

Visit the Rayonier Mill project home page for more information and the latest news about the cleanup. 

Rayonier ran a pulp mill on the property from 1930 to 1997, and then afterwards dismantled the mill.  When the mill was running, sulfite and acid would break down wood chips into cellulose fibers. Operations at the mill contaminated air, soil, groundwater, and sediments.

The extent of contamination at the site is unknown, so we decided to focus on a study area that includes the former mill property and adjacent marine environment.

The amount and type of contamination vary across the upland portion of the Study Area. Most of the contaminated hot spots were cleaned up with interim actions in the 1990s and 2000s. Over 30,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the site.

A note on the Brownfield Program Funding

In 2008, the City of Port Angeles and the Port of Port Angeles created the Port Angeles Harbor Works Development Authority (Harborworks) with the intention of acquiring the Rayonier Mill property to integrate redevelopment into the cleanup.

In 2010, Harborworks received an Ecology (Brownfields Program) Integrated Planning Grant for $200,000. Harborworks used these funds to conduct due diligence and market analysis in support of their plans to acquire the property. After the market analysis, they determined that they no longer wanted to acquire the property.

Contaminants

Contaminants found in soil and groundwater include:

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Metals (such as arsenic and lead)
  • Dioxins
  • Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs)
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • Ammonia

Many of the same contaminants found in soil are also present in sediment, including:

  • Phenols
  • Phthalates
  • Wood debris
Places to see print documents
Legal 17
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Study Area Consent Decree 6/6/2025 Consent Decree
Final Rayonier Mill AO Amendment 2 6/3/2024 Agreed Order Amendment
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Amendment 8/1/2012 Agreed Order Amendment
Termination & Release of Restrictive Covenant, Rayonier Properties, LLC 5/12/2011 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Agreed Order Port Angeles Rayonier Mill 3/25/2010 Agreed Order
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Concurrence Letter - Rayonier Mill 1/22/2010 Agreed Order
Final PLP - Rayonier Properties LLC (2009) 3/16/2009 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
Rayonier Mill 2004 AO Upland RI/FS Amendment 1 3/11/2004 Agreed Order Amendment
Rayonier Mill 2004 AO Upland RI/FS 3/11/2004 Agreed Order
Rayonier Mill 2002 AO Interim Action Finishing Room 8/2/2002 Agreed Order
Rayonier Mill 2002 AO Marine RI 7/30/2002 Agreed Order
Rayonier Mill 2001 Rayonier Inc PLP letter 1/11/2001 Final Potentially Liable Person Status Letter
Rayonier Mill Preliminary Agreement between LEKT and Ecology 3/19/1999 Interlocal/Interagency Agreement; Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding
Rayonier Mill 1998 AO Interim Action Finishing Room 10/1/1998 Agreed Order
Rayonier Mill Deferral Agreement 5/3/1995 Interlocal/Interagency Agreement; Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding
Rayonier Mill - Restrictive Covenant 4/10/1992 Environmental Covenant; Alternative Mechanism
Rayonier Mill 1992 EO Finishing Room 2/10/1992 Enforcement Order
Map 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Map of North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Sampling Locations 5/3/2013 Map
Outreach Information 33
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Study Area Factsheet for 2025 Public Comment Period 6/12/2025 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
September 2024 Status Update: Port Angeles Formal Cleanup Sites & Natural Resource Damage Assessments 9/30/2024 Focus Sheet
Port Angeles Habor Update Information Sheet March 2023 3/28/2023 Focus Sheet
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill and Western Harbor Online Update Presentation 2/9/2021 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
How to join Webex Event Information Sheet 1/26/2021 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Responsiveness Summary (Volumes I, II, and III) 1/20/2021 Responsiveness Summary
2019 Rayonier Mill Vol 1-3 Public Comments 12/10/2020 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
2019 Rayonier Mill Vol 1-111 Public Comments Contact List 12/10/2020 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Volumes I to III Fact Sheet 8/26/2019 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Rayonier Mill Marine Data Summary Report Fact Sheet 12/9/2014 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Timeline January 2014 Update Poster 1/7/2014 Multimedia
Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Timeline July 2013 Update Poster 7/23/2013 Multimedia
North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background SAP Public Forum Presentation 4/8/2013 Multimedia
North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Fact Sheet 3/20/2013 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Rayonier Mill Upland Data Summary Report Release Fact Sheet 1/2/2013 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Sediments Investigation SIR and SDE Responsiveness Summary 12/18/2012 Responsiveness Summary
Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Amendment and MMP Responsiveness Summary 12/6/2012 Responsiveness Summary
Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Amendment Fact Sheet 7/26/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Open House Presentation 3/13/2012 Multimedia
Rayonier Mill Agreed Order Timeline March 2012 Update Poster 3/8/2012 Multimedia
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Reports Comment Period Extension Postcard 3/5/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Reports Fact Sheet 2/14/2012 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Rayonier Mill Off-Property Soil Dioxin Study 7/7/2011 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill: New Agreed Order Public Comment Period and Open House 1/21/2010 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Public Participation Plan 1/21/2010 Public Participation Plan
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Remedial Investigation for the Uplands Responsiveness Summary 8/26/2009 Responsiveness Summary
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Study Design Responsiveness Summary 10/14/2008 Responsiveness Summary
Rayonier Mill Draft Soil Sampling Plan Available for Public Comment 6/30/2008 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
Rayonier Mill Off-Property Soil Dioxin Study 6/1/2008 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Study Design Open House Presentation 5/13/2008 Multimedia
Rayonier Mill Off-Property Soil Dioxin Study PPP 5/1/2008 Public Participation Plan
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Public Participation Plan 4/21/2008 Public Participation Plan
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Sampling Plan Fact Sheet 4/15/2008 Fact Sheet\Public Notices
State Environmental Policy Act 1
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Study Area SEPA DNS and Checklist 6/11/2025 SEPA Documents
Technical Reports 54
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Site - Coastal Conceptual Site Model and Hydrodynamic Modeling Action Plan (August 2, 2024) and Draft Pre-Remedial Design Work Plan Under-Dock and Nearshore Areas (August 30, 2024) 5/5/2025 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Public Review Draft Interim Action Plan for Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Study Area 2/28/2025 Cleanup Action Plan
Draft Interim Action Plan and Consent Decree for the Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Study 6/24/2024 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Rayonier Mill Decision Framework 4/23/2024 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 1/29/2024 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Draft Interim Action Plan November 2023 11/30/2023 Cleanup Action Plan
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 10/26/2022 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Site - Response to Rayonier letter of October 15, 2021 re: Interim Action Report Volume IV 1/13/2022 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Vol I Rayonier Mill Upland Data Summary Report 9/1/2021 Remedial Investigation Report
Vol I Rayonier Mill Upland Data Summary Report Appendices 9/1/2021 Remedial Investigation Report
Vol I Rayonier Mill Upland Data Summary Report Plates 9/1/2021 Remedial Investigation Report
Vol II Rayonier Mill Marine Data Summary Report and Appendices 9/1/2021 Remedial Investigation Report
Vol III Rayonier Mill Interim Action Report: Alternatives Evaluation 9/1/2021 Feasibility Study
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Site - Approval of Vol I, II, and III for the Study Area 8/19/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Site - Final Revisions letter from Ecology 3/9/2021 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 2018 11/8/2019 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Ecology Approval of Revised PRD Interim Action Report Volume III 7/15/2019 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Rayonier Port Angeles Mill - Ecology Response to Request for extension of time 5/9/2019 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Rayonier Port Angeles Mill - ECY Comments on Draft Interim Action Report Vol. III 10/31/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
2018.02.27_Rayonier Port Angeles Mill_Request for Extension response letter 2/27/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 2017 1/23/2018 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
ECY Comments - Rayonier Mill Interim Action Report Volume III - Alternatives Evaluation 9/18/2017 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 2016 8/23/2017 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Rayonier Mill- Annual Report 2014 1/13/2016 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 2015 1/13/2016 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Approval Letter - PRD Volume II Report 12/4/2014 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Annual Report for the Rayonier Mill Site Deferral Agreement 11/19/2014 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Rayonier Mill CSO Materials Management Completion Report 6/30/2014 Monitoring Report
Rayonier Mill CSO Material Mangagement Completion Report_Appx A-C 6/30/2014 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Rayonier Mill CSO Materials Management Completion Report_appx D-F 6/30/2014 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Rayonier Mill December 2013 Timeline Extension Letter to Rayonier 12/30/2013 Site Specific Administrative Document - Other (Administrative Correspondence)
Rayonier Mill Soil Stockpile Management Plan 8/13/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Sampling Validated Data 8/5/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Data Validation Report 7/31/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Rayonier Mill Soil Stockpile Pilot Sampling Results 6/3/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
North Olympic Peninsula Regional Background Sampling and Analysis Plan 5/24/2013 Sampling and Analysis Plan
Port Angeles Harbor Preliminary Sediment Cleanup Objectives 5/22/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Rayonier Mill Pilot Stockpile Sampling Plan 3/25/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediment Dioxin Source Study 2/28/2013 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Report 12/18/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Supplemental Data Evaluation 12/18/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Report Appendices A through C 12/18/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Report Appendices D through J 12/18/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Report Appendix K 12/18/2012 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Materials Management Plan with Addendum 12/3/2012 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Rayonier Mill Additional Permits and Approvals Determination for CSO Project Interim Action 9/21/2012 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Reading Guide: Soil Dioxin Study 7/7/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Rayonier Mill Off-property Soil Dioxin Study public review draft 6/30/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Rayonier Mill Upland Data Collection Technical Memorandum 6/15/2011 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Final Port Angeles Harbor Sediments Investigation Sampling and Analysis Plan 6/28/2008 Sampling and Analysis Plan
Rayonier Mill Off-Property Soil Dioxin Study Soil Sampling Plan Public Review Draft 6/23/2008 Sampling and Analysis Plan
Port Angeles Harbor Summary of Existing Information and Identification of Data Gaps 4/4/2008 Site Specific Technical Document - Other
Port Angeles Rayonier Mill Interim Action Report Former Wood Mill and Fuel Oil Tank #1 Areas 11/2/2006 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Rayonier Mill 2003 Interim Action Report 3/3/2003 Interim Action Plans and Reports
Natural Resource Damage related documents 12
Document Title Document Date Document Type
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Funding and Participation Agreement 11/24/2015 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 8 10/8/2015 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 6 12/19/2014 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 7 12/11/2014 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 5 9/10/2013 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Preassessment Screen 8/30/2013 NRDA Preassessment
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 3 7/11/2013 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 4 7/11/2013 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Funding and Participation Agreement 6/6/2013 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 2 3/14/2013 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Resolution 1 7/26/2012 NRDA Legal Document
Port Angeles Harbor NRDA Trustee Council Memorandum of Agreement 3/27/2012 NRDA Legal Document
There may be more documents related to this site. To obtain documents not available electronically, you will need to make a public records request.

Places to see print documents

  • Southwest Regional Office
    300 Desmond Dr SE
    Lacey, 98503-1274
    Please schedule an appointment to view print documents at this location.
  • Port Angeles Library
    2210 South Peabody Street
    Port Angeles, 98362
    This location may only have print documents available during open comment periods.

Contaminants 14

Contaminant Type
Soil
Groundwater
Surface Water
Air
Sediment
Bedrock
Metals - Metals Priority Pollutants C C
Metals - Metals - Other C C
Halogenated Organics - Polychlorinated biPhenyls (PCB) C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum Products-Unspecified C C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Phenolic Compounds C C
Halogenated Organics - Dioxins/Furans C C C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons C C C
Metals - Arsenic C C
Other Contaminant - Other Deleterious Substances C
Metals - Lead C
Metals - Mercury C
Other Contaminant - Bioassay Failure C
Non-Halogenated Organics - Petroleum-Diesel C
Pesticides - Pesticides-Unspecified C
S
Suspected
C
Confirmed Above Cleanup Levels
B
Below Cleanup Levels
RA
Remediated-Above
RB
Remediated-Below
R
Remediated
This contaminant list was based on our best information at the time it was entered. It may not reflect current conditions at the site.