PORTLAND, Ore. (From news reports) -- Along with the investigation at Nippon Dynawave, two additional paper mills are now under investigation, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced on Thursday.
The action comes after 11 died and 8 were injured when a tank failed at the Nippon Dynawave Kraft pulp paper mill in Longview on May 26.
"These investigations and our targeted enforcement program are precautionary, proactive steps for worker safety at Washington's paper mills," said Labor and Industries Director Joel Sacks.
The other mills are Smurfit Westrock, which is also in Longview, and Port Townsend Paper Company in Port Townsend.
"Keeping workers safe at work is our top priority, " said Gov. Bob Ferguson. "We continue to grieve with the families and loved ones of those killed in the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history. My team is proactively working to ensure employers are identifying and addressing any potential risks that exist at similar sites."
The kraft pulping process used at the Nippon Dynawave mill as well as Smurfit Westrock and Port Townsend relies on a chemical compound called white liquor to break down wood so it can be processed into paper products.
On May 26, a tank holding white liquor imploded at the Nippon Dynawave facility, as more than 500,000 gallons of the highly caustic liquid was released. The chemical also spilled in nearby waterways, making its way to the Columbia River and killing at least 2,000 fish. Officials have called it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent history.
Josh Estes, a spokesperson for the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, said the union is not surprised by the additional investigations. Since the Longview incident, its leadership has been working with its represented facilities in Washington and Oregon to review processes and look for opportunities for improvement.
"Safety isn't a talking point for our members. It's what they live every day. We see these inspections as a proactive step that helps strengthen workplace safety while supporting the long-term success of Washington's pulp and paper industry," he said.
The Washington State Attorney General's Office also announced this week that it has been granted investigative authority and be working concurrently with the Cowlitz County prosecutor to investigate any potential criminal activity that may have contributed to the tragedy at Nippon Dynawave.
"Our office has unique expertise and resources, and we are ready to answer the call from local law enforcement when they need our assistance in complex cases," said Attorney General Nick Brown. "Washington deserves a thorough investigation to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again."
Agencies working to clean up the site also announced Thursday that while monitoring at the site will continue, the emergency response has ended and decontamination efforts are now complete.
Records obtained from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries show that there were already two active investigations into Nippon Dynawave at the time the tank failed.
"I fell into the hole and became submerged in hot stock up to my chest," Andy Choke said in a witness statement. "Employees in the control room observed the situation and immediately began hosing cool water onto me while I worked to get out."
He was eventually able to free himself but said that after doing so he was too exhausted to move. Another employee helped him cut off his suit, according to the documents. One witness said they believed he was protected from injury only because of the rain gear he was wearing. According to employee statements, the spill occurred because workers on the day shift had left a drain open, which caused the hot liquid to spill and the resulting sinkhole to form.
The other open investigation stems from an anonymous complaint from another employee who reported a separate valve issue with an aqua ammonia clarifier tank. According to that report, the tank has a valve that prevents toxic air from going into the atmosphere. The valve had allegedly been shut off for weeks at the time of the report.
"That is creating a hazard because delivery drivers are inhaling toxic air," the complainant wrote. "Also if the pressure is not released it will build up and too much pressure will make the tank explode."
Since purchasing the mill in 2016 from the Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser Company, Nippon Paper Industries has been cited 54 times for clean air and water violations at the Longview facility, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
There was also a fire at the Nippon facility in July 2023. At that time, employees told investigators that upkeep and maintenance of the plant's conveyors had been in decline for 6 or 7 years.
Later in 2023, a leak was discovered on the same white liquor tank that failed in May 2026. According to Washington Department of Ecology records, the leak remained active until at least September 2024.
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries has said that it is investigating the May 26 incident at the Nippon facility, and that it will likely take the full 180 days it is granted by law to complete the inspection. As for the two other mills it is now investigating, the department said those inspections could take up to 6 months as well.
