Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for sustaining the Port of Bellingham’s protest against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) decision to move its Northwest-based Marine Operations Center to Newport, Oregon.  The GAO ruled that NOAA should not have selected the Newport facility as its new homeport because it is located in a flood plain.

“Today’s announcement is great news for the Port, City, our education partners, marine trades industry and local leaders,” said Larsen.  “The GAO’s decision doesn’t mean that Bellingham is guaranteed to be the next home for NOAA’s Marine Operations Center-Pacific, but it puts us right back in the ball game.”

According to a longstanding Executive Order, the federal government cannot support development in a floodplain if a practicable alternative exists.  The GAO decision states that “there can be no reasonable doubt that Newport’s offer proposed to build its pier structure within the designated floodplain area” and ordered that NOAA determine whether a practicable alternative to the previously-selected Newport facility exists.  The full GAO report is available at http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/401837.htm

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