EVERETT — The Port of Everett is pondering four choices for speeding the delivery of jet parts from overseas to the Boeing Co. plant.
Three involve construction of a new pier in one of two locations near Mukilteo, and the fourth would use an existing pier and widen the rail corridor south of Everett to handle the giant Boeing containers.
The proposals launch an 18-month process that port and Boeing officials hope will make it easier and quicker for the jet maker to receive oversized plane parts from overseas.
"This is an exciting project that will help out in a lot of different ways in that it allows us to build the next generation of the 777 and will also add rail time to the Burlington Northern main line, which is very important as we move forward with Sound Transit," said John Mohr, executive director of the port. "It will be very usable for the 7E7 program if that’s sited here in Everett."
Construction of a special barge pier for Boeing was among the items approved by the Legislature and included in the state’s list of enticements to convince the company to assemble its next generation jet — the 7E7 Dreamliner — in Washington state. If Boeing locates the program in Everett, the state has agreed to spend some $15 million for construction of a pier.
The alternatives under study include two differing styles of piers that would be considered for the Edgewater Beach area north of Mukilteo. Another location under consideration would be a little farther south, closer to downtown Mukilteo.
The port will take comments on the proposals at a public meeting 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3 at the commission boardroom at 2911 Bond St. After the hearing, it can apply for permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and launch more detailed environmental studies.
Asked to evaluate the proposals, Mohr said a pier at Edgewater Beach is likely Boeing’s top choice, while one in Mukilteo at the old fuel depot site is probably the one preferred by the Tulalip Tribes. He said widening the rail corridor would be very expensive and likely raise environmental issues.
The Tulalips went on record with the state as opposing the pier, Tribal officials said later that they didn’t want to prevent construction of the pier, but did want to ensure that their environmental concerns were addressed. Since then, the port and the Tulalips have been meeting weekly to discuss the project.
Port engineer John Klekotka said there clearly are environmental impacts connected with the project — primarily related to the destruction of eelgrass, which is habitat for fish eaten by salmon and steelhead.
"We’ll need to do some beach restoration work that will make the beach more attract to forage fish," he said.
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