Bellingham port protests NOAA's move

The Port of Bellingham on Thursday filed a formal protest of the decision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to move its research fleet to Newport, Ore.

Port Angeles, another contender to home port the vessels, has requested more on NOAA's ranking of the four bids it received and is leaving open the possibility of a protest.

Owners of the site on Seattle's Lake Union where the fleet has been headquartered for more than 50 years are still working with the city to consider a protest.

Bellingham's port commissioners think NOAA may have broken its own rules by choosing a site in a floodplain. "We have strong concerns that the process did not result in a fair or accurate comparison of the proposals," said commission vice president Jim Jorgensen.

Port Angeles is unhappy with its low rating on "environmental and cultural" factors, said Jeffrey Robb, the port's executive director.

Seven members of the state's congressional delegation, including Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, have asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to review the decision.

Times staff and news services