Washington lawmakers seek NOAA review; Bellingham port may appeal

ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Seven Washington members of Congress are asking the Government Accountability Office to review a decision by NOAA to move a fleet of research ships from Seattle to Newport, Ore.

The lawmakers � six Democrats and a Republican � asked the GAO to examine the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration�s lease acquisition process to see if it assured the best value for taxpayers and whether officials changed criteria during the process.

NOAA officials announced Aug. 4 their decision to relocate from Seattle�s Lake Union to Newport, where Oregon State University already has the Hatfield Marine Sciences Center and the federal government also has a facility in the area.

Calls by Washington lawmakers for the review come the same week that Port of Bellingham Commission members will discuss on Wednesday, Aug. 19, whether to appeal NOAA�s decision. The discussion will initially take place in a closed-door executive session, which is allowed under state law to discuss potential litigation.

Port of Bellingham officials had submitted a bid for NOAA to come to the Bellingham waterfront. They had hoped NOAA�s facility would be part of waterfront redevelopment.

Port of Port Angeles Commission members also are considering an appeal.

The letter from the Washington officials is signed by Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and five of the state�s nine House members. NOAA said it plans to base four research ships in Newport and later signed a 20-year lease. The research center has been on Lake Union for nearly 50 years and employs 175 people.