INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Washington Public Port Association’s monthly interim report, the November 2021 edition. This report is designed to keep you posted about your Association’s activities after legislative session concludes—the 2022 Session is nearly upon us, with only one more installment of the monthly interim report to go before we again launch our regular Friday Legislative Report for membership.

The WPPA Legislative Committee met on October 25th to finalize a list of legislative priorities for the upcoming 2022 session, which you can see here.

The committee discussed topics that are ongoing or unfinished from previous legislative sessions, issues brought forth from individual ports, and subjects the Legislature has signaled will be considered in the coming year.

At this final meeting of the year, all issues were presented in a matrix format for ease of review and included additional relevant information such as current status, potential partners, and a staff recommendation.  

This list, with some slight changes based on committee discussion, will be presented to the Trustees at the Annual Meeting December 3rd in Bellevue.  Thank you to all the port commissioners and staff who participated in this months-long process.

ISSUES

Legislative Chairs to attend Nov. 9 Tuesday Roundtable

WPPA is pleased to host a Tuesday Roundtable featuring two legislators leading the conversation on economic development.  Senator Mark Mullet, Chair of the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee and Representative Cindy Ryu, Chair of the House Community & Economic Development Committee will join us on Tuesday, November 9th at 11am.  Register now and join us for a conversation about what they think will be on the agenda for the 2022 legislative session.

Department of Ecology Environmental Review Study

Stakeholders will advise the Department of Ecology for improvements to the State Environmental Policy Act.  Gary Nelson, Executive Director of the Port of Grays Harbor, has been appointed to represent ports in this process.  The advisory group meets for the first time October 14th.

Derelict vessels 

The Department of Natural Resources has asked WPPA to join the Recreational Boaters Association of Washington and the Northwest Marine Trade Association to secure an additional $5M for derelict vessel removal.  Marina Committee members met with DNR on October 15th discuss how to support the initiative.

Blocking Toxic Site Cleanup 

The Department of Ecology believes it is required by law to block grant awards for cleanup projects that have not been fully permitted.  WPPA is working with the agency to determine whether legislation is needed to correct the problem.

Permitting Maintenance projects in Puget Sound 

The National Marine Fisheries Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers remain deadlocked and permits are not being issued for projects.  A U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee was briefed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service on October 3rd.

WPPA’s Environmental Seminar 

Held at the Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal, the conference attracted 80 in-person registrations and was sponsored by prominent associate members of WPPA.

Small Ports Seminar in Leavenworth

This year’s Small Ports Seminar at the beautiful Enzian Inn in Leavenworth was similarly well-attended, with over 140 participants from over half the state’s ports represented. We appreciate our sponsors’ generous support of this event, and look forward to seeing you all again next year.