Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009
GAO asks NOAA to reconsider fleet move to Oregon
WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog agency is asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reconsider a plan to move its research fleet from Seattle to Oregon, saying the proposed site for the new fleet base is in a flood-prone area.
The Government Accountability Office said Wednesday it was upholding an appeal by the Port of Bellingham, Wash., which also made a bid for the fleet. A GAO spokesman said the ruling does not overturn NOAA’s decision to base the fleet at Newport, Ore., about 130 miles southwest of Portland.
But the office asked NOAA to reassess its decision because the Newport site is at odds with NOAA’s own requirements. The site is within the 100-year flood plain at the mouth of the Yaquina River, the GAO said.
The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, said the administration should consider and document whether a practical alternative to Newport exists among the four bidders for the 20-year lease.
A NOAA spokesman declined to comment Wednesday, pending review of the nine-page ruling.
The administration plans to base four research ships and up to two visiting ships at the new port, beginning in 2011. The vessels have been based in Seattle for 45 years, but the agency in August awarded a 20-year lease to Newport. The base in Seattle currently has about 175 employees, including 110 officers and crew assigned to the ships.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who has pushed to overturn NOAA’s decision, said the accountability office “made the right call” in sustaining Bellingham’s protest.
“NOAA should keep its Marine Operations Center in Puget Sound. The proximity of employees and oceans research centers makes Puget Sound the logical choice,” Cantwell said. “With today’s announcement, Bellingham’s case for keeping NOAA’s Pacific fleet in Puget Sound can now get a full and fair hearing.”
Newport, well known as a vacation and fishing spot on the central Oregon coast, has developed in recent years as a research center, with Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and the nearby Oregon Coast Aquarium on the south side of Yaquina Bay. The new NOAA base would be in the same area.
Fred Seeger, interim executive director for the Port of Bellingham, said he was pleased at the GAO ruling, although disappointed that the decision did not recommend a complete restart of the process.
“We didn’t get the full win, but this is a pretty big step for us to have the GAO rule in favor of the Port of Bellingham and against the move to Newport,” Seeger said.
He and other Bellingham officials said they remain hopeful that NOAA will locate its fleet there. They have accused the state of Oregon of providing a $19 million subsidy to Newport for its bid. Bellingham has estimated the full cost of the facility at about $32 million.
Don Mann, general manager of the Port of Newport, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The Government Accountability Office said Wednesday it was upholding an appeal by the Port of Bellingham, Wash., which also made a bid for the fleet. A GAO spokesman said the ruling does not overturn NOAA’s decision to base the fleet at Newport, Ore., about 130 miles southwest of Portland.
But the office asked NOAA to reassess its decision because the Newport site is at odds with NOAA’s own requirements. The site is within the 100-year flood plain at the mouth of the Yaquina River, the GAO said.
The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, said the administration should consider and document whether a practical alternative to Newport exists among the four bidders for the 20-year lease.
A NOAA spokesman declined to comment Wednesday, pending review of the nine-page ruling.
The administration plans to base four research ships and up to two visiting ships at the new port, beginning in 2011. The vessels have been based in Seattle for 45 years, but the agency in August awarded a 20-year lease to Newport. The base in Seattle currently has about 175 employees, including 110 officers and crew assigned to the ships.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who has pushed to overturn NOAA’s decision, said the accountability office “made the right call” in sustaining Bellingham’s protest.
“NOAA should keep its Marine Operations Center in Puget Sound. The proximity of employees and oceans research centers makes Puget Sound the logical choice,” Cantwell said. “With today’s announcement, Bellingham’s case for keeping NOAA’s Pacific fleet in Puget Sound can now get a full and fair hearing.”
Newport, well known as a vacation and fishing spot on the central Oregon coast, has developed in recent years as a research center, with Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and the nearby Oregon Coast Aquarium on the south side of Yaquina Bay. The new NOAA base would be in the same area.
Fred Seeger, interim executive director for the Port of Bellingham, said he was pleased at the GAO ruling, although disappointed that the decision did not recommend a complete restart of the process.
“We didn’t get the full win, but this is a pretty big step for us to have the GAO rule in favor of the Port of Bellingham and against the move to Newport,” Seeger said.
He and other Bellingham officials said they remain hopeful that NOAA will locate its fleet there. They have accused the state of Oregon of providing a $19 million subsidy to Newport for its bid. Bellingham has estimated the full cost of the facility at about $32 million.
Don Mann, general manager of the Port of Newport, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Comments
(