The Port of Kalama today filed a motion with the state Shorelines Hearings Board to dismiss its appeal to a condition placed on the Shorelines Conditional Use Permit for the Kalama Manufacturing & Marine Export Facility (KMMEF) by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE).
The port appealed a provision in the shorelines conditional use permit which imposes greenhouse gas emissions regulations on a marine terminal that is being jointly proposed by the port and Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) as part of the overall facility.
The state Department of Ecology has since filed documents which clarify that the condition in question does not apply to the port or to the port’s activities in the shoreline related to the marine terminal operation and that the port does not have a requirement to comply with it, according to Mark Wilson, Port of Kalama Executive Director.
The Port of Kalama does not oppose regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Ecology’s clarification of their position has addressed the concerns that triggered the Port’s appeal.
The primary shoreline impact of the overall facility is the marine terminal which will be built, owned and operated by the Port of Kalama. Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) will be the primary user of the facility, but it will also be available for lay berth use by other ships. The Port will charge fees for the use of the terminal by NWIW and other users.
The marine terminal will include a dock, berth, loading equipment, utilities and a stormwater system. Ships calling at the terminal for methanol will connect to shore power which reduces emissions to the air from ship engines.
