Port Commissioners consider memorandum of agreement

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Just one action item will come before the Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners in its regular meeting, Tuesday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission Room at the Port of Vancouver USA headquarters.

Commissioners Nancy Baker, Jerry Oliver and Brian Wolfe will consider a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in the only action item.

Memorandum of Agreement
The port is currently working on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the West Vancouver Freight Access project and the proposed rail alignment includes removal of the Great Western Malting drum house and a portion of the adjacent grain storage silos.

While the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has found that the structures are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the port is required to provide mitigation measures including archival reproduction of historic images and documents; narrative history and description of the property; creation of an interpretive exhibit describing the history of Great Western Malting; inclusion of Great Western Malting history in port centennial publication and website; and removal and relocation of decorative features in the facilities.

Great Western Malting intends to continue operating its facility at the Port of Vancouver, where it has been for nearly 75 years.

The port has agreed to complete the terms of the MOA within five years following the execution of the agreement.

Also on the agenda are three workshops – open to the public – that will follow the regular meeting.

The regular meeting, but not the workshops, will be televised live on CVTV (Cable channel 21) beginning at 9:30 a.m. It will also be streaming live on www.cvtv.org, and will be archived later in the day on the same website for future viewing.

About the Port of Vancouver USA

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.

The Port of Vancouver is embarking on a year full of projects and developments that will lead to vital job creation, economic stimulation and environmental preservation. By diversifying its cargo mix between bulk commodities, breakbulk and project cargos, the port is responsible for job generation and significant contributions to the tax base for not only its own community, but also the state of Washington. Current expansion of the port’s rail system and development of new port industrial and marine properties will bring new jobs – both short term and long term – and the preservation of wetlands, the creation of enhanced wildlife habitat, and make way for more green/sustainable business partners operating from the port. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.

– POV –

At A Glance

Who: Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners
What: Regular meeting
When: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Commission Room, Port of Vancouver administration building
Quick Facts: One action item and three workshops are on the agenda for the commissioners … The meeting will be televised live on CVTV (Cable channel 21) and will be streamed live on www.cvtv.org.