Why It Matters 

Despite having similar beginnings and comparable situations, the Longview NORPAC and WestRock sites differ significantly from Commencement Bay, Tacoma in their cleanup efforts. But why would two Washington cities on navigable bodies of water with their industries rooted in lumber react to contaminated sites so differently? 

One aspect leading to this difference is the diversity of the two cities economies. Although both cities were founded for the purpose of the lumber industry, Tacoma had an easier time diversifying their economy than did Longview. Both cities are well connected by waterways, but Commencement Bay's location directly on the coast quickly drew other industries that supported and branched off the lumber industry, such as shipping and ship building. Later, the lively waterfront and proximity to Seattle further drew business and commerce to Tacoma, allowing for a diversified economy that was supported in moving away from reliance on lumber. In comparison, Longview was a staples economy from its founding, almost exclusively relying on the lumber industry. With its' inland location and specific industrial purpose, Longview's economy remains closely tied to lumber. This relationship was exacerbated by the Long Bell Lumber Co. and subsequent corporate monopolies that controlled a large portion of employment and commerce in the city, preventing other industries from moving in. These differences in economic diversities contribute to the willingness of citizens and governments to curb polluter activities. In Tacoma, there was significant citizen and government support for the cleanup of Commencement Bay, which was facilitated by a diverse and thriving economy that didn't need to keep all industries at the site operational. In contrast, the Longview WestRock and NORPAC sites have remained operational despite significant pollution and heavy fines from the EPA. In this case, the citizens and government of Longview may be more willing to let pollution slide to keep the economy going and retain jobs. 

Another important aspect leading to the disparity between cleanup efforts is culture. Culture can be closely tied to industry, especially in the early years of a city's evolution. Tacoma and Longview likely had similar cultures in their beginnings, but diverged with the influx of different people and industries to Tacoma. In addition to a staples economy shaping commerce, it also leads to strong traditions and a local culture closely tied with industry. The residents of Longview predominantly worked in the lumber industry for much of the city's history, which created a close tie between the city's culture and lumber. This close relationship influences the presence and effect of environmental activism, where anti-industry activism can seem like an affront to culture, tradition, and economic wellbeing. This could be a reason why the cleanup of the WestRock and NORPAC sites haven't found overwhelming support in Longview. In contrast, although not necessary in the Superfund process, the creation of the Commencement Bay Superfund Site was heavily influenced by activist activity and community support. This support was enabled by Tacoma's diverse economy and the recognition that the purpose of Commencement Bay could be changed to continue to serve the community. With widespread environmental activism and changes to extractive industries, many communities have looked towards attractive economic avenues like tourism and outdoor recreation. Commencement Bay is a great example of this, as the northern tip of the superfund site was transformed into the award-winning Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park after cleanup. Below are pictures of pre-and post transformation Dune Peninsula, Tacoma. 

Despite their contrasting cultural and economic relationships with the polluted sites, the residents of Tacoma and Longview have similarly pushed for environmental cleanup. Chief among the restoration proponents in both locations are the resident Indigenous Nations, who have high stakes in the issue as stewards of the land in memorial. In addition to cultural and spiritual ties to the land, WA State Indian Treaty rights guarantee the continuation of long-standing subsistence practices, which are threatened by poor environmental conditions due to industrial pollution. As important subsistence species in the Salish Sea, Salmon are often used in advocacy and legislation as ecosystem health proxies. The Columbia River Tribal Fish Commission in Longview and the Puyallup and Muckleshoot Tribes in Tacoma have pushed hard for the cleanup of the Columbia River and the Puyallup River Watershed, respectively. However, while the tribal powers in Tacoma have found strong allies in both government and community organizations, the push for restoration in Longview isn’t unified. Despite the efforts by the Columbia River Tribal Fish Commission, the widespread discomfort with the tangible effects of pollution in and around the WestRock and NORPAC sites, and pollution regulation noncompliance fines from the EPA, the operations at the target sites remain largely unchanged. Due to legislative constraints on the timber market, WestRock and NORPAC continue to operate in Longview as grandfathered-in polluters, where maintaining production keeps both the town and companies financially afloat. However, the job cuts and loss of workers to more profitable industries led to a deficient of employees needed for vital pollution cutting checks and programs, creating companies that are cutting safety measures to stay in business. The lack of change contrasts dramatically with Tacoma’s Commencement Bay, where a unified push for cleanup and the creation of the Commencement Bay Superfund Site (enabled by Tacoma’s industrial diversity), has almost completely transformed the area.