KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | NOAA: Will address concerns over Newport site
Member Center:
Associated Press - December 4, 2009 1:05 PM ET
BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believes it can answer questions raised by a federal watchdog agency and not have to change its plans to move the West Coast base for its ships to Newport, Ore.
On Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office said it was upholding an appeal by the Port of Bellingham, Wash., which also made a bid for the fleet. That ruling does not overturn NOAA's decision to move its Pacific Marine Operations Center from Seattle to Newport in 2011, but the GAO notes that the Newport site is within a 100-year flood plain.
NOAA spokesman David Hall tells The Bellingham Herald that it will do what's needed to address the GAO's concerns, and there are no plans at this time to suspend work at Newport.
Information from: The Bellingham Herald, http://www.bellinghamherald.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
