8/4/2026
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the Washington
State Department of Ecology, has begun a
time-critical chemical removal action at the dormant Cosmo Specialty Fibers
pulp mill in Cosmopolis, Washington.
For the past two years, the EPA and Department of Ecology
have worked closely to assess conditions at the non-operational facility and
identify actions needed to reduce potential risks to the community and the
environment. More than 750,000 gallons of waste chemicals remain at the site,
and the facility has accumulated more than $2 million in environmental fines.
In April 2026, the Department of Ecology, the long-term lead
agency for the site, requested EPA assistance with the removal of the remaining
chemicals in tanks and containers.
The facility owner was required to submit an EPA-approved
work plan by late June and begin conducting the chemical removal under EPA
oversight by mid-July. Because these required milestones were not met, the EPA has mobilized to the facility and will complete the
removal effort.
For the next several months, EPA crews will methodically remove chemicals from storage tanks and ensure
they are transported and disposed of safely in accordance with federal and
state environmental regulations.
Community members can expect to see an increased presence of
personnel, contractors, and equipment at the facility throughout the duration
of the project. To ensure the security of the site, the EPA will maintain
24-hour security while removal operations are underway.
At this time, there is no immediate threat to the public
outside of the facility. The removal action is a proactive measure intended to
safely eliminate potential environmental hazards and reduce future risk to the
surrounding community.
Members of the public with questions regarding the cleanup
effort are encouraged to contact the EPA Region 10 Press Team at R10_ Press_Team@epa.gov
For more information on the Department of Ecology actions at the site, please visit the Cosmo Specialty Fibers Webpage
Please check the documents and notices sections of this website for weekly updates on EPA's progress.
