64 



4 



1 "(3) The purchaser plans to make environ- 



2 mental and operational improvements to its pulp 



3 mill, including conversion to an elementally chlorine 



4 free bleaching process, expansion of wastewater 



5 treatment facilities, relocation of the existing 



6 wastewater outfall, and improvements to chemical 



7 recovery and power generation equipment. Total 



8 capital expenditures are estimated to be 



9 $200,000,000, $25,000,000 of which the purchaser 



10 has already invested. 



11 "(4) Extension of the contract for 15 years is 



12 the minimum reasonable extension period to allow 



13 amortization of these environmental improvement 



14 and energy efficiency projects. 



15 "(5) Ketchikan is the fourth largest city in 



16 Alaska. Its economic and job base are extremely de- 



17 pendent upon the continuation of the contract, which 



18 provides the principal source of year-round employ- 



19 ment in the area. The purchaser has stated among 



20 its goals and objectives the following: 



21 "(A) Continuation of a long-term commit- 



22 ment to Ketchikan and southeast Alaska, in- 



23 eluding maintenance of a stable Alaskan 



24 workforce, utilization of Alaskan contractors. 



•HR 3659 IH 



