Edit: A previous version of this post said the Granite project was at the site of the proposed ABC Recycling metal shredder. We’ve corrected it to reflect the Granite project’s site is where the scrap metal pile was, not the proposed shredder, which was on the other side of the waterfront on Marine Drive
The Port of Bellingham Commissioners met on Tuesday, February 4th and voted to approve a new leasee, Granite Construction, for the waterfront area previously occupied by ABC Recycling. Granite Construction plans to transport crushed, washed rock. After listening to presentations from Granite Construction and Port of Bellingham staff, it was clear that Port staff and commissioners learned some valuable lessons on due diligence from the recent ABC Recycling debacle. We appreciate the extra efforts that the Port has performed to investigate the various impacts that this industry may have on the waterfront and surrounding community. RE Sources sent in this comment letter with our concerns.
In response to our letter, Brian Gouran, Director of Environmental and Planning for the Port of Bellingham offered to meet us down at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to tour the site where Granite may soon set up shop. We met Mr. Gouran on January 31st. We walked the site and he explained the ins and outs of the proposed operation. Granite Construction is a large company with local roots.
Up to three barges per month will dock at the shipping lane and unload rock that has been washed to remove most of the fine sediment, which is often the cause of dust and water pollution. The barges will travel from Vancouver Island through orca and salmon habitat to get to Bellingham Bay. They will be smaller than the ABC barges and should only be docked for about 12 hours. The rock will travel through a covered conveyor belt, through a large warehouse, through more covered conveyor belts, and then deposited in piles to await further transport. Having the rock covered for most of the journey will minimize the air, water, and noise pollution.
The Port does not anticipate having as many stormwater issues as ABC Recycling because the product is much cleaner. The hope is that the current stormwater infrastructure will prevent any pollution (sediment, grease, and oil) from entering the mouth of Whatcom Creek and the bay. The property is designed to carry water to specific areas for treatment from biochar, straw, and sand mixes. It was easy to see the flow of the stormwater during our tour because it was raining; the slight tilt of the asphalt and the walled structures in place appeared to be funneling the water into the correct places.
The area where the rock will be stockpiled sits on the former Georgia-Pacific Chlor-Alkali site. This area was heavily contaminated by mercury and other toxics when GP was processing wood into tissue and other products. Mercury and other contaminants are still present on the site, which need to be cleaned up before permanent infrastructure can be built — having relatively mobile rock piles will not impede these future cleanup efforts.
Up to 100 truck trips will be entering and leaving the site during business hours unless there is a need to haul rock at other times — likely for emergency projects such as road repairs. The trucks will be encouraged to take the designated truck route: Cornwall Avenue, to Chestnut, to Roeder, to Squalicum, to Meridian, and finally to I-5. There is another official truck route through downtown that could be used as well, however. The Port predicts that having this operation in a more central location (as opposed to Everson, where Granite Construction has another operation) will reduce the amount of total truck miles traveled on the landscape.
The lease agreement would be for five years with the option to re-apply for another five years. The lease will not be reissued automatically — it is up to the Port to decide if a renewal is appropriate. And, like ABC Recycling, if Granite Construction does not meet permit requirements, the lease can be terminated early. The lease will provide the Port with important revenue that will help fund more cleanup efforts and development of the waterfront.
At this time, RE Sources does not oppose Granite Construction as a tenant for the Port of Bellingham. However, we are also not adding our full support. While Granite Construction will likely be less impactful than the disastrous ABC project, we wonder: could we do even better? Could we have an industry that checks all the boxes, not just most of the boxes? Can we have a tenant that does not rely so heavily on fossil fuels, has no net increase in vessel traffic, and provides community benefits? We think so! With a relatively short five-year lease for this project, there’s an opportunity for the Port to work with the community, tribes, and other stakeholders to outline options for this space in the medium- and long-term.
Should the project be approved, we look forward to continuing our open dialog with the Port and will monitor the site to ensure all the community and environmental promises and regulations are upheld.