Rob McBeth

March 6, 2009

Congressman Mike Thompson
C/o Liz Murguia
317 3’d Street, Suite 1
Eureka, CA 95501

Dear Congressman Thompson,

O&M Industries, founded over 60 years ago, is a locally owned company based in Arcata with over 150 employees. O&M Industries has been the contractor of choice for the operators of the Samoa Pulp Mill for many years. Chosen both for our efficient delivery times and our safety record well above the industry average, we have consistently proven our dedication to the Pulp Mill.

As a company located in a small resource based community, the ripple effect of the Pulp Mill’s closure and subsequent saw mill closures, due to no market for byproducts (chips), has created an economic situation never before experienced. The possibility of the Pulp Mill reopening
has allowed us to retain hope for our laid-off employees (a first in our company history) and for our other industrial customers who rely so heavily on an operating pulp mill.

With only one remaining pulp mill in California and none within a 450 mile radius, your considerations of either a Congressional waste discharge permit variance or a Federal Loan Guarantee for construction of a paper line for the Samoa Pulp Mill will have an immediate economic impact and long-term benefits that will serve our community well into the future.

Sincerely,

Rob McBeth
O&M Industries