POSTED: Wednesday, Dec. 02, 2009

Bellingham may get another crack at NOAA

The Port of Bellingham might get a second chance at landing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific operations center, thanks to a Government Accountability Office ruling that finds fault with NOAA's preferred new site in Newport, Ore.

The GAO ruling Wednesday, Dec. 2, upholds the Port of Bellingham's appeal of NOAA's decision in favor of Newport. That appeal argued that a portion of the Newport NOAA site falls within a 100-year floodplain, in violation of federal rules for building new federal facilities.

GAO ruled that Bellingham's argument was valid, and NOAA must demonstrate that it has no "practicable alternative" to locating its operations center in Newport.

Fred Seeger, acting port executive director, said the GAO ruling is good news, but it's too soon to say whether it gives Bellingham a good shot at winning the NOAA center.

Seeger acknowledged that Bellingham's proposed rent of more than $4 million per year was well above the $2.5 million that Newport offered, thanks to generous state subsidies provided to the Oregon port. NOAA may try to argue that building its center in Bellingham would not be "practicable" because of the cost difference.

Seeger also said he did not yet know whether Bellingham might now be allowed to change the rent or any other aspects of its proposal to sweeten the deal for NOAA.

Don Mann, general manager of the Port of Newport, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

In a written statement, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, said the GAO ruling keeps Bellingham's hopes alive.

Cantwell said the NOAA choice of Newport should be revoked and the Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, should restart its decision-making process.

"There are strong arguments for NOAA keeping its Marine Operations Center in Puget Sound, arguments that relate to the proximity of employees and oceans research centers," Cantwell said. "With today's announcement, I believe Bellingham's case for keeping NOAA's Pacific fleet in Puget Sound stands a much better chance of getting a full and fair hearing."

The NOAA center has been in Seattle for more than 60 years, but the private owners of the current NOAA site on Lake Union did not pursue an appeal after NOAA chose Newport in August 2009.

That could clear the way for this state's senators and state officials to close ranks behind Bellingham's bid.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, who was an early supporter of Bellingham's bid, also applauded Wednesday's GAO ruling.

"The GAO's decision doesn't mean that Bellingham is guaranteed to be the next home for NOAA's Marine Operations Center-Pacific, but it puts us right back in the ball game," said Larsen, D-Everett.

NOAA would bring an estimated 78 shore-side employees plus 178 researchers and on-board crew members assigned to the center's six large vessels, which would be at sea much of the year.

NOAA's existing lease on its Seattle site expires in mid-2011. The new lease would be for 20 years.