HarborWorks Development Authority

HarborWorks is a Public Development Authority (PDA) created by the City of Port Angeles under the authority of the laws of the State of Washington. The PDA was created to undertake, assist with, and otherwise facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of property known as the former Rayonier Mill, currently an underutilized and blighted waterfront area of the City of Port Angeles.

A little more than a year after the creation of HarborWorks, the organization is positioned to accelerate the acquisition and cleanup of the site. Once a candidate for the National Priority List by the US Environmental Protection Agency, cleanup of the site is now being accomplished by Rayonier under agreed orders with the Washington State Department of Ecology under the provisions of the State's Model Toxics' Control Act.

The Mill ceased operation in 1997 and since then Rayonier has removed almost all of the former structures and has accomplished a number of cleanups of contamination on the site. The process is being directed by the Southwest Region of Ecology's Toxics' Cleanup Program.

With active participation by Ecology, the City of Port Angeles, the Port of Port Angeles, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and others, the project to acquire, cleanup and redevelop the former mill site is moving forward. Driven by the desire to create jobs and economic opportunity, to solve the City's storm water issues (see Combined Sewer Overflow link on the "Links" page) and to cleanup and restore a blighted area to productive use, HarborWorks is working to accomplish these goals to the benefit of the entire community. The project has been identified as a priority for every participant.