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The current and former owners of historic Port Gamble in Washington
received the state’s highest environmental award for their work in cleaning
up contamination throughout the town. Pope & Talbot and Pope Resources received
Environmental Excellence Awards from the Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The companies began the cleanup work after the town’s 150-year-old lumber
mill closed in 1995. They have completed seven cleanup projects so far, under
Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.
“Both companies have shown tremendous dedication and initiative to remove contamination, some of which dates back to decades before environmental laws existed,” said Ray Hellwig, Ecology’s regional director.
“This site encompasses an entire company town and has presented an unusual variety of contaminated areas,” Hellwig said. “But thanks to the commitment of these companies, we’ve seen a remarkable transformation.”
Pope & Talbot established the lumbering center along Hood Canal in 1853 and operated one of the state’s largest industrial and shipping centers for many years. The New England-style town is a National Historic Landmark. It is the last intact company-owned mill town in the Puget Sound region. The 120-acre property now belongs to Pope Resources, created in 1985 when Pope & Talbot spun off its Washington timberland and development properties.
“We would like Port Gamble to serve as proof that environmental stewardship and responsibility can also be good business,” said John Rose, president of Olympic Property Group, a real-estate subsidiary of Pope Resources. “Now that we’ve cleaned up remnants of the past, we are excited about our future and putting this historic economic property back into productive use.”
The two firms have cleaned up four landfills and a shoreline area. Work is under way at the 27-acre mill site. Four cleanup projects in the town site — a gas station, auto repair shop, mortuary and maintenance building — are nearing completion. Preparations are under way to clean up marine sediments in Port Gamble.
The Environmental Excellence Award recognizes leadership, innovation and extraordinary service to protect, improve or clean up the environment. The Voluntary Cleanup Program enables property owners to conduct independent cleanups and obtain certification from Ecology when the work is complete, based on detailed technical reports.