Nippon Water Quality Improvements, Restore Elwha River Ecosystems and Fisheries

Olympic National Park has released the Nippon Paper Industries USA (NPI) Water Treatment Plant Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA) for review and comment. The proposed improvements are needed to protect the mill's water supply during and after removal of the two Elwha River dams. The NPI paper mill is located on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles and is currently the sole user of the Elwha River industrial water supply line.

With the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in place, the river's sediment flow is curtailed and the gravel, sand and much of the silt settle onto the bottom of the reservoirs created by the two dams. Once the dams are removed, the restored free-flowing river will again carry its full load of natural sediment. A number of water quality protection facilities are currently under construction or are scheduled for construction and will protect the supply during and after dam removal. In accordance with the Elwha Fisheries and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1992, these projects must be completed before dam removal can begin.

The proposed improvements will protect the water supply for the NPI plant. The NPI paper-making process requires particularly clear water, requiring the plant to have its own water treatment facility. The Elwha Water Treatment Plant, currently under construction by the National Park Service (NPS), will remove sediment during dam removal to maintain existing turbidity levels for the City's industrial water users. The proposed modifications to the NPI water treatment plant will provide a continued supply of water that will meet the mill's requirements.

Document Content:

Nippon Water Quality Improvements Environmental Assessment   (3.3 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.