While the Sumner City Council assembled for a regularly-scheduled study session June 14, a large crowd protested a proposed project.

More than two dozen citizens met across the street to oppose the possible construction of Northstar’s chemical-storage facility in Sumner. The city fulfilled its legal obligations to allow the public to speak at a hearing on the matter and the protest served as a way for people to continue to voice opposition and form a course of action.

Several protesters held signs with slogans including “Thanks but no tanks“and others read information about the project posted on sandwich boards.

“It could pollute our air,” Carolyn Fudge said.

Jack Hicks, who spoke on the record at the city’s public hearing, said he reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and finds potential for disaster. Among the chemicals planned for storage at the facility is nitric acid.

“I’ve been going over that DEIS with a fine-tooth comb,”he said. “The nitric acid is really the worst.”

Pollution and contamination of air and water are shared by several opponents.

Jennifer LeMay said her biggest concern is about contamination of the water supply. Sumner is in the process of drilling a well at the Fleischman’s Vinegar plant property, which is near the proposed Northstar site at 1115 Zehnder St.

Councilmen Matt Richardson and Randy Hynek took a break from the study session and joined the protest group at the former Red Apple market. Hynek said he and Richardson are not necessarily the only members of council who share the crowd’s views, and other members could not attend with them in order to avoid a quorum.

Richardson told the crowd he and others who are opposed to the chemical facility will fight against the project to preserve Sumner as it is.

“Sumner is something you have to work for every day, every month and every year,” he said.

Sara Hoime encouraged people to do contribute to the effort against the proposed facility by becoming more informed about the matter in hopes of discovering a way to prevent it, for example, by uncovering an overlooked aspect of the city’s code which may nullify the project, even though she and others have looked.

“We have scoured the Sumner Municipal Code,” she said.

Petitions were available for signature, which would request the presence of the property owner and Northstar representatives at future meetings.

The public comment period for the project is under way until 5 p.m. Monday. Written comments may be submitted to Sumner City Hall at 1104 Maple St.