+---------------------------+--------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service     | Mount Rainier      |   | 55210 238^th^     |
|                           | National Park      |   | Avenue E.         |
| U.S. Department of the    |                    |   |                   |
| Interior                  | Superintendent's   |   | Ashford, WA       |
|                           | Office             |   | 98304-9751        |
|                           |                    |   |                   |
|                           |                    |   | 360-569-2211      |
|                           |                    |   | phone             |
|                           |                    |   |                   |
|                           |                    |   | 360-569-2170 fax  |
+---------------------------+--------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Mount Rainier National Park** News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

June 5, 2008

For Immediate Release

Mika Moore, 360-569-2211 ext. 2304

### Mount Rainier National Park to Celebrate Donation of Bio Toilet

Representatives from Mount Rainier National Park and the Japanese
non-profit organization Groundwork Mishima will activate a new "bio
toilet" at Cougar Rock Campground at a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning
at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008.

The high-tech toilet, valued at \$70,000, was donated to the park last
fall by Groundwork Mishima, which works with citizens, local
governments, and businesses to address environmental issues and promote
volunteerism in Japan. The group is active at Mount Fuji, which has a
"Sister Mountain" relationship with Mount Rainier National Park. "We are
pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with the people of
Japan," said Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. "This bio toilet will be a
practical contribution toward our goals of environmental stewardship and
sustainable design in Mount Rainier National Park."

The toilet was installed in late August of last year with the help of
students from the Japanese Volunteers-in-Parks Association, who have
been contributing volunteer services at Mount Rainier since 1993. Due to
the lateness of the season, the toilet was not activated last fall. Its
unique design uses cedar chips and natural composting techniques to
operate efficiently with very little water and with no odor.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be attended by Superintendent Dave
Uberuaga; Dr. Toyohiro Watanabe, Executive Director of Groundwork
Mishima; President from Toyo Kogyo, the toilet's manufacturer; and
representatives from the Morinaga Milk Company, which produces the
popular "Mount Rainier Café Latte" drink
([www.mt-rainier-cl.com](http://www.mt-rainier-cl.com/)) in Japan and
whose financial support made the bio toilet's donation possible.

Cougar Rock Campground is scheduled to open to the public at noon on
June 13, 2008. Heavy snowfall last winter and a late melt-out this
spring have delayed its official opening and snow remains on the ground
in the campground.

-NPS-