Ecology releases MTCA funding for port projects

A rare good news story for you this week- the Department of Ecology announced that it was releasing MTCA funding for existing projects. The state’s share of funding for the cleanup of toxic sites was frozen in April because of pandemic-related revenue concerns.

Washington ports use the scarce MTCA resources to create jobs and stimulate local economies—all while protecting the state’s environment. The 2008 recession demonstrated the importance of having MTCA projects submitted and ready to go—state grant funding which wasn’t earmarked for particular projects was swept to fill state budget gaps.

The present crisis presented by the pandemic and its economic fallout could be a powerful opportunity for ports to demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of the MTCA program. WPPA is working with ports across the state to gather data on MTCA successes, and will work to tell the story of why MTCA matters to the legislature.