by Merijn Soeters
After the world championships in Florida, Merijn Soeters traveled the US for two months. In Eureka, CA he found rowers at sunset on Humboldt Bay; home to various endangered species and a growing shell fish industry. In the background you see the Samoa Pulp Mill. Operational from the sixties to 2008 and now owned by the Port Authority. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Approximately 30 bulk storage tanks in various states of decay contain approximately 4 million gallons of pulping liquor and approximately 10,000 gallons of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. In addition, approximately 10,000 gallons of fuel and turpentines, as well as, over 3,000 tons of corrosive sludges are on-site. It was observed that the majority of tanks are leaking and also accumulating rain water.”