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A project designed to help prevent shipping bottlenecks on the Columbia River is in danger after the Port of Portland declined to contribute to the construction. But the Port of Kalama may be able to make up the missing share.
Four Lower Columbia ports had planned to each contribute about $167,000 toward construction of three new stern buoys at Rainier, Kalama and Vancouver. A local funding match was needed for the ports to qualify for a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Stern buoys are chains linked on one end to floating buoys and the other end to steel plates embedded in the river. Ships waiting out in the river channel for an open dock can tie up to them and remain stable despite shifting tides and currents. A recent corps analysis found that the Lower Columbia needed the additional stern buoys, and supporters said the project would decrease air pollution because ships could remain stable without help from tug boats.
The ports of Longview, Vancouver and Kalama each
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approved the funding with the expectation that the fourth partner, Port of Portland, would do so as well. But the Port of Portland, struggling with lower cargo activity, said it couldn't spare $167,000 for the project.
That likely killed the project. On Tuesday, Port of Longview commissioners declined to offer more money on top of what it already has pledged.
However, the Port of Kalama commissioners Wednesday night agreed to pitch in up to $300,000 to the project, which would cover its share of the local match and all but about $34,000 of Portland's share. It will approach Vancouver and Longview in an attempt to rescue the project. It also would consider adding fewer buoys to reduce costs.
The ports have until Friday to come up with the funds; otherwise they will lose the Corps grant opportunity.
For more of The Daily News: tdn.com
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