Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Chairman Dennis White III issued a formal statement last week calling for transparency, accountability, and the highest level of environmental protection for the Columbia River in the wake of a catastrophic chemical disaster at a Washington paper mill -- a disaster that has sent shockwaves far beyond the industrial site.
What Happened in Longview
On or around June 2, a pressurized tank at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington ruptured after an implosion, releasing approximately 900,000 gallons of "white liquor" -- a corrosive chemical slurry used in pulp processing -- across the mill site and into nearby waterways. Eleven workers were killed and seven others were injured in what Washington Governor Bob Ferguson described as potentially "the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history."
Some of the contaminated liquid entered drainage systems near the mill. Reports indicate that to dilute the concentrated chemical, some of the contaminated water was intentionally pushed into the Columbia River. By the time the Warm Springs tribe issued its statement June 5, emergency response crews had completed flushing the drainage system around the mill, but the tribe’s concerns extend well beyond the immediate cleanup.
The Tribe’s Statement
"First and foremost, we are saddened to hear of the workers who lost their lives in Longview," White wrote. "We extend our prayers and deepest condolences to their families, friends, coworkers, and the entire Longview community during this difficult time."
But White also made clear the tribe has a deep obligation to speak up for the river itself.
"At the same time, we have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the Columbia River. We are river people. We come from the Big River. Our river is a way of life, and water is life. We have a responsibility to speak for our river -- we are its voice."
Treaty Rights and the River
White’s statement invokes the Treaty of 1855, which guarantees the Confederated Tribes the right to fish in streams running through and bordering the reservation. Those rights, White noted, have been repeatedly affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"These rights are not symbolic," White said. "They are legally protected."
The statement expresses cautious concern about current water quality reports, while emphasizing that the tribe will continue to watch closely. "While reports indicate that river conditions currently meet established safety standards, we can only hope those assessments prove accurate for the well-being of the Columbia River," White wrote. "We pray the effects of this chemical contamination do not impact the future health of the river, its habitat, its fish populations, or future salmon runs."
Why This Matters for Central Oregon
The Columbia River and its tributaries are central to the culture and economy of the Warm Springs Reservation in northern Jefferson County. Salmon runs on the Deschutes River, which flows into the Columbia, support tribal subsistence fishing that has been practiced for thousands of years. Any long-term impact on the Columbia ecosystem would have direct consequences for tribal communities in Jefferson County.
White said the tribes will continue advocating for "transparency, accountability and the highest level of environmental protection" and called that responsibility one owed to "the generations who will depend upon it in the future."