Methanol: NWIW missed its chance to engage public

Re: “Methanol pause is time to reflect” (Viewpoint, 4-3).

What is the Economic Developement Board CEO talking about? Pause for what purpose?

The developer (Northwest Innovation Works) of the proposed methanol plant has had two years to engage the public, yet it hasn’t provided anything more than a shallow “fact” sheet and now a propaganda video. It has not engaged the public to answer scores of questions about the specific pollutants that will be released into our air and water and what the public health risks are.

Time is up. NWIW needs either to pay the big bucks per the lease agreement starting May 1 and start applying for the many needed construction permits, which will be challenged every step of the way by the methanol plant opponents, or just pack up and leave town.

NWIW has never built any plant like this before, which is evident by its incompetence in trying to build this one. The Red Line is the line not to be crossed by any fossil fuel industry that poses a threat to the health and safety of our vibrant, newly restored Greater Tacoma community.

Never in my 29 years of living here have I seen so many residents united against a proposal that threatens our community.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 10:10 AM with the headline "Methanol: NWIW missed its chance to engage public."