12 



During Che conference, a representative of one company, making a state- 

 ment on behalf of three mills located at Everett, Washington, indicated 

 that it would cost the three mills $35 million to meet the requirements 

 established by the Washington Pollution Control Commission with respect 

 to the discharge of sulfite waste liquor. 



A recent report by the Acting Director of the Washington Pollution Control 

 Commission notes that, "A careful review indicates that major expenditures 

 Involving waste liquor recoveries are involved at four mills, and avail- 

 able conversion cost data indicates that 500 ton mills have been converted 

 for considerably less than $10,000,000. For some of the smaller mills the 

 preliminary contacts indicate expenditures of a quarter of a million dol- 

 lars or less, a number of which will pay out within reasonable lengths of 

 time." 



There are obviously differences in estimating the cost of the control 

 works needed by the seven pulp and paper mills in the Puget Sound and 

 Strait of Juan de Fuca area. A financial analysis to support the cost 

 estimates by representatives of the pulp and paper industry cannot be made 

 directly by the Washington Pollution Control Commission or the U.S. Depart- 

 ment of Health, Education, and Welfare. The conferees have under way econ- 

 omic studies which will help to indicate whether the costs stated by the 

 representatives of the pulp and paper industry are, in fact, within the 

 range of costs generally associated for needed control efforts in other 

 comparable situations. 



These cost figures stated by representatives of the pulp and paper indus- 

 try have been used to encourage the idea that threats to close the mills 

 have been made by the pollution control agencies. Neither the Washington 

 Pollution Control Commission nor the Federal Government has ever threat- 

 ened, suggested, or deemed it necessary to consider closing any of the 

 seven pulp and paper mills involved in this situation. It has been the 

 consistent policy of both the State and Federal agencies to seek an equi- 

 table solution to the pollution problem encountered in the Puget Sound 

 and Strait of Juan de Fuca area. Broad experience shows that industry 

 and clean water both can exist to produce benefits for all the people. 



Federal Investment in the Puget Sound 

 and Strait of Juan de Fuca Area 



The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported to the conference that it 

 spends annually in Puget Sound $300,000 for research, hatchery operations, 

 technological developments, and the collection of statistics. It stated 

 that Federal fisheries investments in the region are valued at two and a 

 half million dollars but that this investment of Federal funds is by no 

 means a full measure of the great importance of fish and wildlife resour- 

 ces of this area. 



The Seattle District office of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers reported 

 to the conference that the Federal Government has a substantial investment 



