Camas Paper Mill smell (Vancouver, Washougal: houses, to buy, best school districts)

[klpeake]

We have been looking all over Clark County for houses and haven't really settled on any one area. I really like the Camas mountainous area just north of the Camas schools from NE 28th St/Brunner Rd and North. (actually in the city of Vancouver but the Camas school district). But I am wondering about the paper mill (rotten egg) smell. When I was up there in Oct. of last year I smelled it as I was driving through downtown Vancouver, but have never smelled it in the 4 subsequent trips. Now I know that the paper plant's a odor reduction program imposed by the government require stage 2 compliance as of April 16th, 2006 and so it may be that they have done some drastic things in the last year. Is there anyone that lives in that area that can tell me more. How bad is the smell? Is it just certain times of the year? Has it gotten better in the last year?

Thanks,

Karol

[klpeake]

Can I take from the fact that nobody has responded, that there is no more sulfur smell in the Camas/Vancouver area from the Camas paper plant??

[MossyToes]

I don't live near Camas but occasionally drive by. The smell seems to come and go though come to think of it I haven't smelled anything recently. But like I said I am not local to Camas.

[nwraider]

My dad and stepmom live right in Camas (you can see the Mill from their front yard). We visit a few times a year, but the smell is not there all the time. I'd have to check with him to more gauge the frequency of the smell though...

[geon]

If you don't like the odor, I would pass on being that close. I'm sure it comes and goes, just like living too close to a landfill....once is enough for me.

[klpeake]

Originally Posted by geon

If you don't like the odor, I would pass on being that close. I'm sure it comes and goes, just like living too close to a landfill....once is enough for me.

The only time that I have ever smelled it was when I was in Vancouver over 13 miles away from the plant. The thing I don't understand is that the best school districts are all right around that plant and the houses in that area are pricey also. So that sort of implies to me that you actually can't smell it as much right around the plant; maybe because of the wind direction?

I would like to take a survey:

- tell me where you live in Clark County?
- have you ever smelled the paper plant?

[TheRusticCottage]

Depends on which way the wind is blowing. If you object to the smell then don't move there but it is an issue. Camas is a very expensive area to buy in.

[NWgirl]

klpeake, we live in the Vancouver area and I rarely have ever smelled the papermill. We've lived on the Washington side of the Columbia for 6 or 7 years now and I can count on about four fingers the number of times I've smelled the mill. I don't know if it is worse if you're actually living in Camas, but living near Camas, I don't notice it.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by TheRusticCottage

Depends on which way the wind is blowing. If you object to the smell then don't move there but it is an issue. Camas is a very expensive area to buy in.

The wind used to be a HUGE part of the issue, but not so much anymore. I gre up in Washougal and we couldn't smell the mill probably 99.9% of the time. (One nice thing about the east wind coming out of the Gorge!)

But the EPA has SERIOUSLY nailed the Camas mill on it's emissions and they've dropped significantly in the 30 years that I lived in that end of Clark County. They are now required, by law, to notify the surrounding areas when they have a leak of emissions over what is allowed. They're very tight on this now. It's a great change.

But don't worry too much about the mill. It's dying. With layoff after layoff, buyout after buyout, aging equipment and employees with only the knowledge of those archaic machines, that place is on it's last legs as a pulp/paper mill in the current market. It's no longer competitive or cost effective and it's only a matter of time before it's sold and converted into something else.

[Ra-zone]

Originally Posted by klpeake

We have been looking all over Clark County for houses and haven't really settled on any one area. I really like the Camas mountainous area just north of the Camas schools from NE 28th St/Brunner Rd and North. (actually in the city of Vancouver but the Camas school district). But I am wondering about the paper mill (rotten egg) smell. When I was up there in Oct. of last year I smelled it as I was driving through downtown Vancouver, but have never smelled it in the 4 subsequent trips. Now I know that the paper plant's a odor reduction program imposed by the government require stage 2 compliance as of April 16th, 2006 and so it may be that they have done some drastic things in the last year. Is there anyone that lives in that area that can tell me more. How bad is the smell? Is it just certain times of the year? Has it gotten better in the last year?

Thanks,

Karol

I have lived in this area nine years. Only recently has the smell been noticable and strong. Many years ago I was in the area, and it was always present. Whatever the government did that forced the mill to make changes seemed to work well. I am trying to find out who to contact about the recent overwhelming sewer-like smell.