300 



BOB 0. BOWER 

 of State waters. 



In 1956^ after years of inactivity, goaded 

 by demands of tnany conservation groups, the Commission 

 issued temporary permits requiring pulp mill cleanup. 

 These permits expired and were renewed amid calls for 

 more research and consideration of economic factors. 

 Two supposedly independent scientists made a survey and 

 submitted recommendations. Later one of the scientists 

 reported he was under tremendous pressure in setting 

 recommended standards for toxic substances higher than he 

 would have liked. 



An examination of pertinent correspondence 

 gives an insight into the manner in which the present pulp 

 mill waste permits were prepared and issued. 



From a letter from the then Executive 

 Secretary of the Northwest Pulp and Paper Association to 

 his Washington trustees, August 1960: 



"In talking with me and members of the 

 industry, the Commission Director has asked that we 'not 

 get excited or disturbed' over the proposal or language. 

 He feels the proposal will get the oyster growers and 

 fisheries off his back. He says he doesn't intend to 

 require 'full' recovery and he strongly intimates that a 

 number of the sulfite mills might now qualify for permanent 



