FOLLOWUP: Hearing postponed for Port, Foss, Shell, city fight over Terminal 5 permits

(May photo by Paul Weatherman: Shell’s Aiviq and Polar Pioneer @ T-5)
This Thursday was supposed to be the day that the city Hearing Examiner started listening to arguments in the fight over permits allowing the Port to allow Foss to host Shell at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5. But it’s been pushed back three weeks, according to a notice in this morning’s city Land Use Information Bulletin, with the new start date August 13th, continuing into the following day and August 24th if necessary; the delay was requested by Foss, according to the case file. The Port, Foss, and Shell are appealing the city Department of Planning and Development‘s May “interpretation” saying that the port’s permits for use of the terminal don’t cover what’s involved in hosting Shell. More than a dozen maritime-related businesses sought to join the case in their support, as we reported last month, while environmental groups requested permission to support the city’s position. It’s been five weeks since the Polar Pioneer drill rig left West Seattle to head north; what happens in the appeal process now could affect whether it returns here after whatever happens in the Arctic Ocean later this summer.

ChefJoe July 20, 2015 (12:09 pm)

I’m thinking the Port wanted a bit more time to prepare for a hostile court. We’ve already had a ruling from the Hearing Examiner that various environmental groups will be allowed to participate as intervenors but the various maritime businesses had their petition denied.

http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/Order%20on%20Motion%20to%20Intervene.PDF

WSB July 20, 2015 (12:31 pm)

Joe, that’s not true – the motion by the maritime businesses was not denied. I don’t have time to upload and redownload the paperwork at the moment but it’s in the file along with dozens and dozens of other docs:
.
(link shortly) It was granted, but limited.

forgotmyname July 20, 2015 (12:29 pm)

Oh, City of Seattle, this wouldn’t be an issue if you truly acted upon (and not just talked about) your anti-fossil fuel/green power beliefs and NEVER ISSUED THE PERMIT IN THE FIRST PLACE! What kind of company did they think Shell was that the City was suddenly surprised the company’s lease would be fossil fuel related?! What on Earth did the City think Shell was going to moor here, a ship bound for the Arctic to high-five polar bears!? This sort of mess (which we’ll all pay for, one way or another) is what happens when you speak loudly and carry a tiny little stick.

ChefJoe July 20, 2015 (1:06 pm)

WSB, I think that the little bit I read about this was from the Seattle Times editorial on June 26/27th “give maritime industry a fair hearing on Shell’s oil-rig lease”.

They say that environmental groups can fully participate, cross-examine witnesses and were recognized as having a substantial interest in local shore health.
They said the maritime groups were denied this same opportunity and the interests were represented by the Port and Foss and they won’t participate in the hearing. The “limit”, not fleshed out in the editorial, is that they are preserving a right to appeal and they can still provide written statements. That’s from the 6/23 document.

http://web6.seattle.gov/Examiner/case/S-15-001