Contact: NOAA - Matt Stout FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Simpson - David McEntee 4/3/96
Tacoma, Wash--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today that two major paper companies have acted to restore the natural resource and bypass lengthy litigation in the Pacific Northwest. Champion International Corporation and Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company have entered into one of the nation's first natural resources damage settlements under which environmental restoration projects have been carried out even before final agreement was approved in federal court this week.
Champion, the former owner of the Simpson Tacoma Kraft mill, and Simpson, its current owner, have restored key portions of Tacoma's Commencement Bay in Puget Sound, an estuary of national significance, in a landmark settlement approved in federal court this week that resolved claims for natural resource damages against the two companies. (See attached Fact sheet.) The natural resource trustees in the agreement included NOAA, the U.S. Department of Interior, the State of Washington, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Citizen and environmental groups have supported the agreement.
"This settlement reflects a key success story in our efforts to shift Superfund's focus from assessing damages to restoring habitat," said Terry Garcia, NOAA's General Counsel. "This restoration was planned jointly by the companies, natural resource trustees and citizens without litigation."
The agreement is unusual because the companies have already performed nearly $4 million in actions to restore critical tideflats and marsh habitat. The habitat benefits salmon, marine fish, birds and other wildlife.
"This agreement demonstrates what can be accomplished when we direct our energies to meet the basic purpose of the law -- restoring natural resources -- rather than following traditional regulatory approaches," said David McEntee, environmental services manager for Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company.
"This agreement is significant because the companies, government and citizens put environmental restoration first," said Terry Garcia, "By focusing on restoration the companies and trustees were able to work together on shared goals and achieve real results."