Port of Grays Harbor

Port of Grays Harbor was founded in 1911 near Aberdeen, Washington. Historically, the port was a leading export port for U.S. grown timber, Grays Harbor now leads the U.S. in exports of American grown soybean meal and is the number one seafood landing point in Washington State.

Background
The Port maintains four terminals. The Port’s largest marine terminal, Terminal 4, is a 1400 ft. long berth capable of handling two vessels. One half hour from open sea, Gray Harbor's Terminal 3 is a 150 acre marine industrial site with a deep water terminal and on-site rail. As of late July 2011 Terminal 3 was available for sale or lease.

It was reported in July 2011 that a railroad was looking at a Port of Grays Harbor terminal in Hoquiam, Washington for a terminal to ship coal to China. RailAmerica Vice Predident Gary Lewis told The Daily World of Aberdeen the idea would require further study and the project is several years from being completed. The possible 45 million dollar export facility would be built at Terminal 3, a former log yard.

RailAmerica owns the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad that serves Grays Harbor. The port's potential coal export terminal could bring another 75 ship calls a year to Grays Harbor.

In August 2011 it was announced that RailAmerica was canceling its plan for a coal storage and export facility at the port's Terminal 3. The company said they believed there are other uses for the terminal that are more likely to generate jobs, tax revenues and business for the port and for the company, said Gary Lewis. As such plans to export coal from Grays Harbor were cancelled.

Oregon Gov. calls for review of coal export impacts
In April 2012 Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber stated that he wants an extensive federal government review of exporting coal to Asia through Northwest ports. The Governor said that coal exports could clog barge and train routes, increase diesel and coal dust pollution and boost amounts of toxic mercury drifting back to Oregon when Asian countries burn the coal.

However, Kitzhaber didn't take a stand for or against exporting coal, which supporters say would increase rural jobs and tax revenues in Oregon and Washington. Instead, his letter asked the federal government to address how increasing exports to Asia will "fit with the larger strategy of moving to a lower carbon future."

Related SourceWatch articles

 * China and coal
 * Millennium Bulk Logistics Longview Terminal
 * Port of St. Helens
 * Washington (state) and coal
 * Wyoming and coal
 * Powder River Basin
 * U.S. coal exports
 * Coal terminals
 * Coal Exports from Northwest United States Ports