Carpenters Local 751

August 3, 2009

The Honorable Mike Thompson
317 3rd Street, Suite #1
Eureka, CA 95501

Dear Congressmen Thompson:

On behalf of Carpenters Local 751, I am writing in support of the Freshwater Tissue Company and their proposal to resume operation of the Samoa Pulp Mill and to construct an adjacent paper mill that will manufacture finished tissue paper products for distribution in the Northwest States. Freshwater Tissue Company has developed a business plan that brings together the essential components for success; state of the art “green technology”, sustainable forestry practices, retention of jobs in this community and a viable marketing and distribution plan.

Freshwater Tissue will convert the Samoa Pulp Mill into an integrated tissue mill. When completed, the mill will provide 425 high paying industrial jobs, approximately 2.550 indirect jobs, and a $363 million projected annual sales revenue with an annual profit of $70 million. This effort will help stabilize our timber products economy and provide essential revenues for our local governments.

Freshwater Tissue hopes to employ the 215 AWPPW members who were at the mill when it closed, retaining that knowledgeable and committed workforce and once again allowing their families to enjoy family sustainable incomes. Some 200 additional workers will be trained to supplement the existing workforce, providing substantial employment opportunities for many community members. Hundreds of skilled construction workers will be engaged to build the new facility and to supplement the in house maintenance crews during annual shutdowns.

Freshwater Tissue has secured support from many of the local and regional environmental advocacy groups, labor unions, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the local community, and timber industry leaders. We recognize the great potential this project has to become a model for retaining manufacturing jobs in the United States, producing a necessary consumer product using sustainable, environmentally responsible, socially conscious, business practices that will positively impact our community for the future. We would greatly appreciate your support of this project.

Sincerely,

Dan McCulloch
President
Carpenters Local 751

Cc: Governor Arnold Schwarznegger
Senator Patricia Wiggins
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro