Pacific Lumber Accused of Toxic Cover-Up

Eureka, CA A former Pacific Lumber (PL) official has filed a wrongful-termination suit alleging he was ordered to conceal waste including asbestos and oil residue from Water Quality officials when seeking environmental permits for the company’s new $30 million sawmill.

The LA Times reports that the lawsuit, filed by PL’s former business and community development director Jimmy Dan Cook, alleges Mr. Cook suffered "repeated verbal abuse and threats from (PL CEO Robert) Manne because of (Mr. Cook’s) resistance to follow orders he believed to be unlawful." Mr. Cook is a life-long resident of Humboldt County and began working for PL in 1995.

The allegations in the lawsuit are being investigated by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.