Followup: Comment deadline for port’s decision that upgrading Terminal 5 is environmentally non-significant; see neighbors’ letter

Back on Friday, thanks to a tip, we reported on the looming deadline for telling the Port of Seattle what you think about a Terminal 5 issue that’s not directly related to the Shell drilling-fleet controversy: The fact the port has declared the long-term modernization project will be environmentally non-signficant and therefore doesn’t require an environmental-impact study. Some West Seattleites disagree and are sending in their comments by today’s deadline, including a letter that we’re told represents more than two dozen residents in East Admiral, just upslope from T-5. One of their points:

The road traffic resulting from simultaneously unloading two post-Panamax ships will cripple the already congested West Seattle bridges. We do not have an answer to this, nor does the Port. Therefore, we recommend an environmental impact study be done to understand the traffic solutions before reaching the point of no return.

They also suggest the port is gambling a quarter-billion dollars or so on this without knowing whether the market might change irreversibly in the few years T-5 will be closed. Here is their full letter:

They’re also sending it to city and county leaders and asking for their support. As explained in our Friday report, the documents about the “non-significance” decision are here, and comments can be sent to SEPA.p@portseattle.org.

Mike March 23, 2015 (8:31 pm)

I have no doubt this will bring in billions more for the Port of Seattle. It will cost the rest of us a lot of headaches if the port does not improve truck traffic issues they already have running at less than full as is. Top it off that the Coast Guard can open the lower bridge whenever they wish, you have a mess of traffic. A lot of this can be resolved by not running trucks at peak traffic times. I find it odd you see backups to the port during morning and evening rush hours, but not mid day or late at night. Seems like a great opportunity for the port to make that much more money while not letting trucks sit idle in traffic.

cj March 23, 2015 (9:35 pm)

This makes me very sad. Apparently our clean up efforts mean nothing to the port.

Luke March 24, 2015 (11:12 am)

All I ever read with the port is people complaining and trying to find ways to start different lawsuits. Get life’s and worry about you own problems.

Jim March 25, 2015 (2:07 pm)

You hit the nail on the head, Luke. These people ARE worried about their lives. The Port of Seattle is the ugly neighbor than doesn’t give a damn about their well-being.

Sorry, comment time is over.