Wesley Chesbro

July 16, 2009

Robert M. Simpson
President – Freshwater Tissue Company
One TCF Drive, P.O. Box 248
Samoa, CA 95564

Dear Mr. Simpson;

I am writing to express my support for your efforts to revive Samoa Pulp Mill and to develop an adjacent paper plant, focusing on tissue products. Your vision encompasses many associated issues facing the north coast economy, and is both dynamic and innovative at a time when our regional redood economy is reeling from the current recession.

In my discussion with you and others in our region, I understand Freshwater Tissue will convert the closed mill into an integrated tissue mill. When compelted, the mill will provide 425 high paying industrial jobs, approximately 2,550 indirect jobs, and a $383 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.

I am further pleased that your efforts have ecured 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. From the controversial timber wars of prior years, this is significant. Our entire region has historically suffered from a lack of unity on our approach to timber harvesting, and this project will go a long way in helping to heal and bring reasonable solutions for our future timber economy.

Thank you very much for all your endeavors to bring about an exciting new venture for our north coast region and demonstrating that we don’t need to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy environment. We can have both.

If I can be of any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

WESLEY CHESBRO
Assemblyman, 1st District