is seeking to control this pollution, bringing into use applicable State 

 and Federal laws. 



The Pacific Northwest office of the Water Supply and Pollution Control 

 Program of the U.S. Public Health Service has worked closely on pollution 

 control matters with the Washington Pollution Control Commission since 

 1949. It has reviewed and considered the State's activities and has been 

 aware of its policies, operations and programs. The U. S. Public Health 

 Service is acting in support of the State of Washington on this situation. 



As a result of the conference, field survey and investigation work in the 

 Pacific Northwest office of the U. S. Public Health Service is being ex- 

 panded for the purpose of developing cooperative studies with the Washing- 

 ton Pollution Control Commission to seek additional up-to-date information 

 in order that both the Washington Pollution Control Commission and the 

 Federal Government can be prepared for such future eventualities as may 

 be necessary to carry out both State and Federal laws. 



Seven pulp and paper mills in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca 

 area are contesting the Washington Pollution Control Commission's order 

 requiring the mills to control pollution created by them. The industries 

 have recorded in the conference that they are dumping polluting substances 

 into the area's waters. However, the mills disagree with the Washington 

 Pollution Control Commission as to the effect of this pollution. 



This is not an unusual situation. Experience indicates, however, that 

 reasonable solutions to such differences can be found. The excellent 

 pollution-control effort already made by industry in the State of Washing- 

 ton and throughout many parts of the country leads to the conclusion that 

 agreement can be reached to have both a strong economy and the kind of 

 clean water the Pacific Northwest deserves to have for all purposes. 



Basis for the State of Washington's Request 

 for Assistance from the Federal Government 



The State of Washington's request for assistance in preventing and con- 

 trolling the pollution of the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan 

 de Fuca and their navigable tributaries and estuaries was the result of a 

 long and inconclusive effort by the State to bring about the control of 

 pollution resulting from the discharges from seven pulp and paper mills 

 into these waters. 



The conference records that, as early as 1940, efforts were undertaken by 

 the State authorities to seek an equitable solution to the pulp and paper 

 industry's waste disposal problem. The twenty years of unsuccessful 

 effort and the costs and technical difficulties resulting from the vigor- 

 ous opposition by the pulp and paper mills to the pollution control re- 

 quirements in the waste discharge permits are the primary reasons for the 

 State's request for assistance from the Federal Government. 



