Stormwater removal facility may slow future progress

KONP Radio

11/26/02

(Port Angeles) -- Port of Port Angeles Commissioners learned this week a stormwater removal facility may stand in the way of future progress on the waterfront.

The lack of a stormwater plan is holding up permits for the port's planned ship washdown facility and could be a stumbling block for the Wesport Shipyard and Graving Yard projects.

The port's Planning Director says the port has been working with the state Department of Ecology for the past year and a half to solve the problem.

Commissioners also heard from Port Angeles Economic Development Director Tim Smith regarding the Stormwater elimination problem. Smith says the problem faces both the city and the Port. Smith recommended that port join forces with the city in trying to solve the problem before it derails the new business coming to the waterfront.

 

Related story:

Port Angeles: Port board concerned stormwater issue could hold up major projects

2002-11-26
by BRIAN GAWLEY
Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES, WA-- Port and city officials must work out stormwater-disposal issues quickly to prevent holding up two big job-producing projects on the waterfront, Port commissioners said Monday.

Although a regional solution to stormwater disposal would be best, the need to expedite such projects as Westport Shipyard's yacht-building plant and the state Department of Transportation's proposed graving yard might require an interim solution, Port Commissioner Bill Hannan said.

The Port plans to negotiate leasing 20-plus waterfront acres to the state for a graving yard -- an onshore dry dock -- to build concrete anchors and pontoons for the 2006 Hood Canal Bridge replacement and retrofit project.

Westport Shipyards recently bought 3 acres from the Port to build a factory for producing 164-foot luxury yachts, each costing about $30 million.

Officials for both projects want to begin building facilities in 2003.

In addition, the Port is pursuing a permit to develop a ship repair and washdown facility on the waterfront.

But the Port commissioners fear that strict new federal standards for stormwater disposal could delay the projects.

In essence, the new standards call for treatment of runoff water from rainstorms, especially that containing oils and other pollutants, before the water enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca.