Port of Everett tries to protect funding at Legislature

EVERETT — Because of the tough economy, the Port of Everett isn’t asking the Legislature for any money this year. But it is asking lawmakers not to tap into some earmarked funds that already exist.

The port will visit the Legislature on Monday and Tuesday and will ask for three things,

the agency’s Lisa Lefeber said.

They are:

•Stop dipping into a $38 million payment from the Asarco legal settlement to be used to clean up arsenic around the company’s former smelter in Everett. Last year, lawmakers diverted a portion of the settlement with the promise to pay it back with interest.

•Don’t divert money set aside for cleaning up toxic areas around Puget Sound. The port is hoping to be reimbursed in the next two years for $3.7 million spent for cleanup on its waterfront property.

•Reappropriate a $1.2 million loan approved earlier to add a rail spur to the port shipping terminals. The port needs more time to develop technical specifications for the project and isn’t ready to borrow just yet.

Lefeber said the port also would be interested in any projects that improve the ability to move freight more quickly from the port or in any unique ideas to pay for economic development projects.

Port officials will be joined only by Commissioner Mark Wolken in talking to legislators next week. Last year, all three port commissioners made the trip and were accused of holding an illegal meeting.

John Mohr, port director, said the agency’s legal advisor said such meetings are not illegal but that it was determined to send only one commissioner this year to prevent any appearance of impropriety.

Mohr said he knows the budget deficit will make the session very tough this year. He said he’s really concerned that lawmakers will again take away money earmarked for cleanup.

The Department of Ecology can’t stop forcing the port to clean up toxic areas, but there’s nothing that forces it to meet its promise of paying half the cost, he noted.

So far, the port has spent $9.9 million on cleaning up polluted areas and has received $3.3 million back from the state. ”We’re very concerned the Ecology won’t make good on its commitments,” Mohr said.