The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are raising urgent questions about long-term environmental damage to the Columbia River in the aftermath of a catastrophic industrial accident at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, last month.

A tank at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill imploded and ruptured, releasing approximately 900,000 gallons of "white liquor" — a toxic chemical mixture used in paper pulping — into the mill site. Cleanup crews have been working to contain the spill, but tribal leaders say the public and downstream communities deserve a full accounting of how much contamination reached the river.

"We Are Its Voice"

Warm Springs Tribal Chairman Joined other tribal voices in demanding transparency and accountability from the companies and agencies responsible for monitoring the spill's effects on the Columbia River ecosystem.

"We are its voice," the chairman said, invoking the tribe's long-standing treaty rights and spiritual relationship with the Columbia River — a relationship codified in the Warm Springs Treaty of 1855, which guaranteed the tribe's right to fish at traditional sites "in common with the citizens of the territory."

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, whose reservation lies in Jefferson County along the Deschutes River, have harvested salmon from the Columbia and its tributaries for thousands of years. The tribe's cultural and economic wellbeing is directly tied to the health of the river system.

What Is White Liquor?

White liquor is a highly caustic chemical solution — primarily sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide — used to break down wood fiber in the paper manufacturing process. A large-scale release into waterways can alter pH levels, harm aquatic life, and potentially affect fish populations downstream.

Tribal Call to Action

The Warm Springs Tribe's statement called for:

  • Full transparency about the volume and composition of material released
  • Independent monitoring of the Columbia River's water quality at downstream tribal fishing sites
  • Accountability for any long-term impacts to salmon, steelhead, and other fish species

Why This Matters for Jefferson County

While the spill occurred in Washington State, its potential downstream effects are relevant to tribal members across the Columbia Plateau, including members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The tribe holds treaty-protected fishing rights at numerous Columbia River sites, and salmon remain central to tribal culture, ceremony, and subsistence.

Environmental cleanup efforts at the Longview site were ongoing as of early June. State and federal agencies were continuing to assess whether any contamination breached containment and reached the Columbia River.