Last week I attended the public hearing for the methanol refinery in Kalama we have been hearing so much about lately. A hearing is where both sides of an issue present their views to a board of decision makers. However, this hearing was different from others I have attended. I think one could make a strong case to have such an important decision turned over to the Department of Ecology and Gov. Inslee.
The hearing was heavily attended, but fewer than 100 of the 600 people there were able to speak publicly. Usually this gap is filled by having a court reporter standing by to take extra comments, or at least, a sealed comment box for depositing typed comments. Not this time. Additionally, the sign-in procedure was time-consuming and cumbersome, and some attendees missed a good part of the hearing while waiting outside in line for more than 30 minutes.
Although the employees of the Port of Kalama running the hearing were polite and helpful, the port and Cowlitz County have a financial interest in the refinery. Surely, having the governor and Department of Ecology in charge would give participants more confidence in the impartiality of the proceeding.
