Our Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Department (PDS), which is part of our County Administration under the direction of County Executive Jack Louws, needs to start being fully transparent with the public in matters relating to the Gateway Pacific Terminal project. Continue reading
October 21, 2016 Sandy Robson
This post is a follow-up to my October 12, 2016 article posted on the Noisy Waters blog. In the article, I mentioned an April 15, 2016 email and letter from Project Manager Craig Lenhart of CH2M Hill, the consultant preparing the presently-suspended EIS for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) project, and Parametrix’s Jenifer Young, sent to Whatcom County Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder. Continue reading
Click on the graphic to view a transcript of Q&A between county executive officials and county council members on the GPT EIS preparation contract at the September 13, 2016 Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services committee meeting
October 12, 2016 Sandy Robson
During the September 13, 2016 Whatcom County Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting, County Deputy Executive Tyler Schroeder, gave a presentation to Council about proposed contract Amendment 5.1 to the June 2012 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) preparation contract for the Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) and interrelated Custer Spur Modification projects. Continue reading
September 19, 2016 Dena Jensen
Okay, what’s past is past. The vote was cast to extend the contract for the GPT EIS Preparation. But a sell job was done by the Whatcom County Executive office and I think it is important to understand how it was a sell job. I believe I have pinned this down for my own understanding and maybe this explanation will help others understand why “contract completion” of the GPT EIS preparation contract is not accurate to describe what has now been approved by the Whatcom County Council, and why “contract suspension” is accurate and clearly indicates the EIS preparation, thus the contract, will not be completed, and can carry on in the future if the county and CH2M HILL agree to do so. Continue reading
September 8, 2016 Sandy Robson
Presently, Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) applicant Pacific International Terminals (PIT), continues to try to suspend, not terminate—not close out, the contract for EIS preparation for the GPT project. Continue reading
September 5, 2016 Sandy Robson
At the upcoming September 13th Whatcom County Council meeting the Council will be presented a contract Amendment to Contract No. 201205028, the contract between Whatcom County and CH2M Hill (EIS consultant) for preparation of the EIS for the Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) and Custer Spur Modification project. Continue reading
Screen shot of language from “Attachment A: Scope of Work – Ramp Down Plan” found on page 14 of contract #201205028 (highlighting added)
Screen shot of language on Whatcom County Planning and Development’s Gateway Pacific Terminal Proposed Project webpage, Project Update section (highlighting added)
September 3, 2016 Dena Jensen
Subject: Request that the Project Update on the county’s GPT webpage be updated with more details
Dear Whatcom County Council and Deputy Whatcom County Executive Schroeder:
In my September 1, 2016 email to the Whatcom County Council, copied to Deputy County Executive Schroeder and County Executive Louws, regarding denying the contract extension for the preparation of the EIS for the GPT project the first two paragraphs read as follows: Continue reading
May 9, 2016 United States Army Corps of Engineers Determination from their Memorandum for Record, Subject: Gateway Pacific Terminal Project and Lummi Nation’s Usual and Accustomed Treaty Fishing Rights at Cherry Point, Washington
September 1, 2016 Dena Jensen
Dear Whatcom County Council:
It is my understanding from an email sent by Deputy Whatcom County Executive Tyler Schroeder to a friend of mine, that the parties of the contract, which I assume is for the preparation of the EIS for the GPT project of which the parties include CH2M HILL and Whatcom County, have agreed between each other for the contract to be extended 180 days from the date of contract signature, or March 13, 2016, whichever occurs first, “to accomplish ramp-down contract activities to ensure that the work and the contract are closed out in an orderly fashion.” Continue reading
September 30, 2015 Tim Johnson
BUSINESS CLIMATE: Two major employers have announced layoffs, prompting discussion of the health of the local economy.[…] Continue reading
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