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HiTest Sands Inc. is not going to abandon its proposed plan to build a metals smelter one mile outside of Newport’s city limits as it is now a registered foreign Washington business. In addition, PUD, with a HiTest check, is hiring a consultant to oversee the power service for the smelter. Never mind that PUD, by its own admission, does not have the infrastructure to accommodate the tremendous power required by this facility.

My point in writing this letter is to encourage those who are still undecided about the smelter to seek out information from area groups who are opposed to it, which includes Responsible Growth * NE Washington, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and Citizens Against Newport Silicon Smelter.

Within those groups are people with education/ experience/ expertise in chemistry, engineering, smelters, coal industry, railroad/truck industry, ecology, industrial health issues, plus researchers. We are doing the work the county should have done before trusting HiTest “to do the right thing.”

HiTest is here not to provide jobs for area residents, but for corporate profit, cheap land, labor, utilities and “targeted tax relief.” When they are done exploiting , they leave. We are stuck with the contaminants, health and environmental mess. It is happening all over the world.

Contact the organized opposition groups websites for the real facts.

PHYLLIS J. KARDOS

Newport

Co-Chair Responsible Growth * NE Washington