In the weeks following the deadly chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, attention has turned to other pulp and paper mills across Washington. What federal records have revealed at one of them is causing serious concerns among locals and health experts.
Documents obtained through a public records request show that Cosmo Specialty Fibers, a closed pulp mill in Cosmopolis, Washington, has been leaking hazardous chemicals for years. Regulators have warned that the situation poses the potential for a "catastrophic release" that could threaten people on and near the site, public health, and the surrounding environment in Grays Harbor County.
About Cosmo Specialty Fibers
Cosmo Specialty Fibers is a pulp mill located in Cosmopolis, a small city in Grays Harbor County near Aberdeen in western Washington. The mill was used to produce cellulose, a material found in everyday products such as medications, electronics screens, fabrics, and cosmetics.
The facility closed in 2022 and has since been owned by English businessman Richard Bassett, who has expressed a desire to reopen it. In the years following closure, however, the mill has fallen into a state of significant disrepair, accumulating a serious and growing list of environmental and safety violations along the way.
Federal Regulators Find Serious Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed a site evaluation at Cosmo Specialty Fibers in February, which was later obtained by the Seattle Times through a public records request.
The findings raise serious red flags:
- At least eight active chemical leaks were documented, including one releasing an estimated 45 gallons of hazardous material per day.
- Approximately 727,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals have been identified on site; the composition of an additional 1.7 million gallons remains unclear.
- Hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemicals register at either a highly acidic or highly alkaline level, both capable of causing severe burns on contact with skin.
- A large wooden pipeline running more than two miles beneath the property has at least 16 documented leaks, including some located in or near residential neighborhoods.
- Sludge ponds near the Chehalis River have been flagged as an environmental concern.
- Inspectors found evidence of past leaks, inadequate or absent containment measures, and widespread rust and corrosion on tanks, pipes, and valves throughout the site.
- EPA officials attempted to seal some of the leaks directly but were unsuccessful because some metal had deteriorated so severely that even minimal pressure caused new leaks to open.
The chemicals leaking from the site are primarily classified as sulfite liquor, a highly acidic mixture. While chemically different from the alkaline white liquor that spilled in the Nippon Dynawave disaster in Longview, the dangers are comparable. Researchers in occupational health have noted that both types of chemicals can cause severe burns to skin, fatty tissue, muscles, eyes, and lungs, and both can be fatal in large quantities. The mill also sits along the Chehalis River, raising the possibility of broader environmental harm in the event of a major release.
A Pattern of Non-Compliance
Despite the severity of what regulators have found, the facility's owner has resisted taking corrective action at multiple turns. Bassett has accumulated millions of dollars in fines from state and federal agencies, including a $2.3 million penalty, which he is reportedly contesting. He has also pushed back against EPA efforts to remove the hazardous chemicals from the property, asserting ownership over the materials and disputing that they represent a meaningful risk.
In February, the facility's remaining security personnel left the property after reportedly going unpaid, leaving the site without active monitoring. That absence of oversight has already had consequences: at least one person who trespassed onto the property suffered chemical burns after coming into contact with caustic chemicals on the grounds, and a significant volume of chemicals was released in the process.
Together, active leaks, deteriorating infrastructure, no on-site oversight, and an owner unwilling to cooperate with regulators have created conditions that authorities say could lead to an unpredictable catastrophic release of harmful chemicals.
(Keep in mind that this situation is still developing. The information in this blog reflects what was publicly known as of the date of publication. As regulatory actions, inspections, and potential legal proceedings continue to unfold, new details are likely to emerge.)
Who Could Be at Risk
The situation at Cosmo Specialty Fibers raises serious safety and legal concerns for several groups:
- Nearby residents, particularly those living close to the pipeline leaks that have reached residential neighborhoods.
- The broader Cosmopolis and Grays Harbor community, especially if a larger chemical release affects the Chehalis River or the surrounding environment.
- Current or former workers and contractors who have been on the site and may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals.
- Anyone who has been on the property and suffered harm, especially since the site has been shuttered and left unattended.
Live in Cosmopolis? You Might Have a Claim Against Cosmo Specialty Fibers.
When a facility is allowed to deteriorate and when an owner refuses to take responsibility for the dangers that it creates, it is the surrounding workers and community members who are left to face the consequences. If you or someone you love has been harmed by chemical exposure at or near Cosmo Specialty Fibers, you may have the right to pursue legal action. Just living near the facility in Cosmopolis could be enough to take legal action, depending on what further investigation reveals about the facility’s potential harm to the environment and community.
At Bishop Legal, we handle toxic exposure cases throughout Washington, including right here in Cosmopolis and Grays Harbor County. We have a proven record of taking on large corporations, major property owners, and other powerful defendants and holding them accountable for the harm they cause to others, oftentimes through inexcusable corporate negligence. Our team offers free case reviews, is available 24/7, and works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
If you live in Cosmopolis and think the Cosmo Specialty Fibers facility might have caused you to suffer health consequences related to chemical exposure, we want to hear from you. Contact us today at (206) 260-3316 to schedule your no-cost case review. Se habla español.