John Roland, 63, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2021. He was a senior geologist with the Washington Department of Ecology, working in the Agency’s Spokane regional office for over three decades.
I was fortunate enough to meet John in 2008. He was the first government employee to respond to the numerous letters I had written to multiple agencies about the communities concerns on the impacts of Teck’s decades of polluting our water and air. While other Washington agencies were aware of the health issues that plagued Northport for over three generations, they did nothing.
Not John Roland. In 2008, he contacted me directly and visited my family and the Northport community. From that first meeting, I knew I had met a man of integrity, courage, and true commitment. He was dedicated to helping us and ensuring that studies and clean-ups were finally done, and done right.
His countless accomplishments are too many to list. He secured funding and initiated the ongoing Northport Waterfront cleanup. After the EPA dismissed the community’s petition, signed by over 100 residents, requesting new air monitoring, John organized Ecology’s Air Quality Program specialists to use existing data to evaluate conditions. They confirmed that more air monitoring was needed in and around Northport. Unfortunately, the EPA disregarded these recommendations.
John went above and beyond to ensure that the community of Northport would not be forgotten. He stayed true to his commitment, doing everything in his power to protect us.
The research, testing, publications, and projects he started and found funding for gave us a fighting chance. Of all the state and government agency employees I have worked with over the years, John was the first and one of the only ones who saw us as people. He recognized our suffering and went to great lengths to help us.
John, you did so much for our community. You were our champion and our friend, and you will be greatly missed.
