At the Port of Vancouver, we believe that a strong economy and a healthy environment are vital to our region; in fact we consider a healthy environment a sign of a healthy business.  We are committed to our permitting and mitigation efforts -including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The purpose of the Port of Vancouver’s Columbia Gateway is to create local, quality jobs while developing land in an environmentally responsible way.  Located on the Columbia River, the Columbia Gateway property has access to an international shipping channel, connections to two national rail systems, and highway system –all critical to attracting new industries and jobs.

To date, two companies have signed letters of intent to build facilities on Columbia Gateway, pending completion of permitting and “shovel-ready” (ready-to-build) status of the property: 

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Americas LLC
The Port of Vancouver USA and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Americas LLC (WWL) have signed a Letter of Intent outlining a potential joint project with each party performing a portion of the development of a marine terminal, and a vehicle processing and distribution center at Columbia Gateway (click here for news release).

Rappaport Energy Consulting
Rappaport Energy Consulting will build a state-of-the art biofuels facility, which will serve Vancouver and the metropolitan area, and has signed a Letter of Intent to lease 30 of the 75 total acres of planned industrial property at Columbia Gateway (click here for news release).

Before Columbia Gateway can be developed, it must comply with a federally-led National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that includes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which evaluates environmental, social and economic impacts of proposed development.

The environmental review process for the port's Columbia Gateway project is summarized in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It includes maritime and industrial development and rail lines on the property, and associated mitigation and habitat creation.

Columbia Gateway NEPA Oversight

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the lead federal agency conducting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluation process for the Columbia Gateway project.  The USACE will evaluate the project and issue a Record of Decision as to whether the port’s project meets federal regulatory requirements.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be responsible for reviewing the Biological Assessment regarding impacts to federally listed threatened and endangered species.

Columbia Gateway State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

The property must also complete an assessment for the State of Washington.  The port will review the NEPA EIS for adoption to satisfy SEPA environmental requirements.

Timeline and Milestones

• The NEPA Scoping Report will be complete in the late fall of 2007.
• The Draft EIS is estimated to be available sometime in late December 2007, and will include a 60-day public comment period.
• Estimated completion of the NEPA and SEPA processes is 2008.

Columbia Gateway Project Alternatives

The NEPA for the development of Columbia Gateway involves Parcels 3, 4 and 5 (click here for aerial).

• Alternative 1 – No Action
  
• Alternative 2 – Auto Import/Heavy Industrial Facilities
  
• Alternative 3 – Reduced Heavy Industrial Facilities on Parcel 3
  
• Alternative 4 – Auto Import/Bulk Handling Export/Heavy Industrial Facilities.

The Draft EIS evaluation of these alternatives includes development and wetland and habitat creation/mitigation. The DEIS includes an assessment of effects to natural resources, as well as social and economic effects to the community. NEPA is a public process and the port will continue to seek public input throughout.

Mitigation and Habitat Creation Areas
When developing new facilities, the port’s goal is first to avoid, then minimize and mitigate for impacts to the natural environment. For the development of Parcel 3/Columbia Gateway, the port has set aside over 600 acres for mitigation and habitat creation.

This includes approximately 540 acres of Parcels 4 and 5 (north of the Flushing Channel) for mitigation and habitat creation.  Additional mitigation will occur within Parcel 3 and along both sides of the Flushing Channel, including a buffer area within Parcel 3, and near the shoreline of Parcel 3. 

In addition, the port would implement the environmental commitments listed below under all the action alternatives.

• Best Management Practices (BMP)
• Bald Eagle Protection Area, Riparian Protection and Enhancement
• Shallow Water Habitat Protection

Public Involvement
The Port of Vancouver hosted a number of public meetings regarding maritime, industrial and transportation development and permitting (click here for the port's community meeting summaries and calendar). In addition, the port regularly attends area neighborhood and organization meetings to share the port's development plans, answer questions and continue a dialog on the opportunities and challenges of nearly doubling the size of the port.

We are available to attend your neighborhood or organization's meeting to update your group on the latest developments (click here to contact the port for a meeting).

Formal NEPA Public Comment
In addition to ongoing outreach, the public formally commented during the Scoping phase, that occurred at the beginning of the NEPA process, including a public meeting held on September 12, 2006. The scoping report will be available to the public sometime in late fall, 2007.

Public comment on the Draft EIS will be solicited when the DEIS is complete in late 2007.  The USASCE will provide public notice on the availability of the Draft EIS and respond to DEIS comments in the Final EIS document.

Associated NEPA Studies
Below is a list of studies that are associated with the NEPA and EIS evaluation process.

Gateway Technical Reports

• Sediment Report (Parametrix: January 2007)
  
• Sampling Report (Parametrix: August 2006)
  (Files are large, reports are available on CD - please email request to kbrooks@portvanusa.com)
  
  

The Port of Vancouver’s West Vancouver Access Rail Project includes several stages, or schedules.  The first is to build new access to the BNSF Railway mainline, beginning just west of the Interstate Bridge (click here to view project aerials).  The new access line will be built adjacent to the existing mainline and will relocate rail spurs that serve industrial users in the area, also allowing the redevelopment of Vancouver’s west waterfront. 

Schedule 1 does not include a Federal NEPA process because it is within a built environment and has not received Federal funding.  It will undergo SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) evaluation and local permitting.

Essential Public Utilities Status
The Port of Vancouver declared Schedules 2 – 4 of the West Vancouver Freight Access Project as Essential Public Facilities pursuant to RCW 36.70A.200(1) and RCW 47.06.140.  The notification was filed and published on April 30, 2007, with a 90-day public comment period which closed on July 28, 2007.

The application is moving forward with port submittals for land use review applications under a Conditional Use Permit with the City of Vancouver for the following elements:

• Critical Areas
• Shorelines
• Tree Plan Review
• Archeological Predetermination
• Essential Public Facilities
• SEPA