The Port of Everett recently responded to the draft Environmental Assessment issued by the U.S. Air Force concerning the transfer of the Mukilteo Tank Farm, citing issues with the draft.

 

The Air Force received numerous responses to the draft EA in addition to the port’s, and is reviewing them all.

 

“We’ve not reached any decisions at this point in time, though we’re working through the responses that we received,” said Doug Allbright, the point of contact for the EA at the Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

 

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the EA outlines the responsibilities to preserve the environmental, cultural and historical resources found on the property.

 

The draft EA was not the first from the Air Force; a draft was also issued in 2009.

 

With its issuing, the public was once again invited to comment on the draft EA during a 30-day period in July.

 

“The EA draft laid out a number of terms and conditions the Air Force would put in place for the transfer of the property, and the port has objected to several of those requirements,” said John Mohr, executive director of the port.

 

The port’s issues with the draft EA include a requirement that the port be perpetually responsible for enforcing preservation law – no matter who owns it later – and the inclusion of an unwanted pier in the transfer that would cost an estimated $10 million to remove.

 

“We cannot accept liabilities like that,” Mohr said.  “No one in their right mind would accept liabilities like that.”

 

The port also notified the Air Force of failure to provide a warranty regarding the cleanup that has been done on the property.

 

The Air Force received other responses from interested parties, including responses from the city of Mukilteo, Washington State Ferries, Washington Department of Transportation, city of Everett, Japanese Gulch Group and Native American tribes.

 

Some of the recommendations received were contradictory, Allbright said, which means the Air Force may need to turn to the federal and Washington state governments to reach a lawful agreement.

 

“We’re going to evaluate any concerns,” he said.  “Additonally, we try to reach out to the commenters to better understand their input and determine a course of action.”

 

The port asked that the Air Force extend the period of comment to allow a response to the missing warranty, which Mohr said is necessary to evaluate its environmental conditions.

 

“We’ve been waiting on this property since 1985. I don’t think a few weeks or months or maybe even a year or more is a major issue for us,” he said.  

 

“What is important is that when the property is transferred, it’s done right.”

 

The tank farm, a 20-acre property owned by the Air Force and formerly used for jet-fuel storage on the Mukilteo waterfront, is in the process of being transferred to the port.

 

Of the 20 acres, 18.8 acres of the property would go to the port, while the remaining 1.1 acres would go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  The land is leased to NOAA for the Mukilteo Field Station.

 

With the transfer of the tank farm to the port, plans for the property include an expansion of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, a Sounder commuter-rail platform and a Community Transit station.

 

“We want to have this as a real asset to our community,” Mohr said.  “We are just a vehicle to acquire the property for others to use, and we’re very open to the possibility of a multi-modal facility, some parks and open space.”