A public meeting about the proposed Northstar Chemical facility at 1115 Zehnder Street in Sumner Tuesday evening attracted more than two dozen people from the community, several of whom spoke on the record.

If constructed, the facility will store liquid chemicals and provide a means of transporting the chemicals via truck and rail.

Among concerns from residents are the risk of a chemical spill and possible contamination of the water supply or the surrounding air.

The hearing is required following the publication of the Environmental Impact Statement about the project. The statement is available at www.ci.sumner.wa.us.

Community Development Director Paul Rogerson presided over the hearing and told attendees the comment period was limited to three minutes per person.

Mark Johnson, who is an environmental planner and senior manager at ESA Adolfson, the environmental consulting firm which drafted the impact statement, spoke before the hearing and answered questions from the audience about the impact statement.

“You can help us to make this document more complete and thorough,” Johnson said.

Sara Hoime, a longtime outspoken opponent of the proposed project, brought a copy of the document to the table and at times held it in her right hand while stating her concerns.

Several people spoke and the qualms included possible water and air contamination and spills while transporting the material.

Rogerson felt the hearing was informative.

“I was really impressed with how prepared people were,” Rogerson said.

He said the vast majority of comments were well-researched.

The hearing is not the only opportunity citizens have to make their opinions available and comments are accepted in writing until June 28 at 5 p.m.

Once the comment period ends the comments are responded to one by one.

“Everyone that comments becomes part of the mailing list,” Rogerson said.

Response to the comments on the city’s side may include altering the project document in the way people suggest it be changed. The city could also decide not to continue with the proposed project, Rogerson said.

Rogerson said it’s typical for actions like this to have no local appeals process.

“The default avenue for appeal of the Final Environmental Impact Statement is through the superior courts,” he stated.

Sumner anticipates issuing the Final Environmental Impact Statement in early fall.