Jim Thompson   -- 2006-01-05

Before you start labeling things as air pollution, you should know what you are talking about. If you will check with anyone who knows anything about paper mills, you will find out that what you are seeing in this picture is condensed wate vapor. Rest assured that both the local and federal EPA would not tolerate these plumes if they contained anything harmful.

Rob Peters   -- 2006-03-02

You're pretty innocent if you think in the political and financial climate the EPA has enough resources to monitor every possible polluting company.
Our environmental group fought a large paper mill throughout the 80's into the mid 90's. People around the plant were getting sick and even when we brought it to the attention of the regulators nothing was done. It turns out that the government monitoring equipment was only turned on during the day, the plant knew this, and at night they would vent their toxic fumes. After members of our group did their own monitoring and figured out what was going on the regulatory agencies finally caught them and fined them heavily.

Rozenn Lalo   Coos Bay, OR -- 2006-11-13

The harmless water vapor emission from the flue gas scrubbers in this photo dissipate to the atmosphere within seconds. The North Benol mill lasted a little longer but now it too has passed from the scene being closed down in 2003 and completely razed by 2005. The new owners of the property are looking to sell or lease the site. Any takers? For info contact the Port of Coos Bay at the following: www.portofcoosbay.com/