Mayor's statement on NOAA decision
Fleet heads to Oregon, which pledged public subsidies

SEATTLE -- Mayor Greg Nickels today expressed disappointment that NOAA Marine Operations Center-Pacific currently based in Lake Union will re-locate to Newport, Ore. However, Nickels thanked Councilmember Jean Godden and other community and business leaders such as Todd Pacific Shipyards, the Port of Seattle, and the University of Washington who worked hard in recent months to retain the fleet in Seattle.

"After almost 50 years in Seattle, NOAA's decision to select another homeport is deeply disappointing," said Nickels. "Ultimately, this was a real estate decision between NOAA and a private Lake Union landowner who could not compete with massive public subsidies. We will work with our congressional delegation to explore next steps."

There are 180 jobs related to the NOAA facilities in Lake Union, which is homeport to 10 NOAA ships. The NOAA facilities in Montlake and Sand Point -- which employs the largest NOAA staff outside of the Washington, DC, region -- will remain in Seattle.

NOAA's announcement today followed an intensive competition between Seattle and other ports including Newport, which pledged to issue $24.8 million in revenue bonds to cover half the cost of a new facility. The state of Oregon would add an additional $19.5 million in bonding capacity. In the end, there was no way a private landowner in Seattle could compete with a package that included more than $40 million in public investments.

Nickels met personally with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke earlier this year about retaining NOAA in Seattle. 

After a 2006 fire destroyed piers, docks and two buildings in Lake Union, the Port of Seattle and Todd Pacific Shipyards provided winter moorage for NOAA's fleet. The city's Office of Economic Development assisted NOAA property owners in securing city, state and federal permits -- in record time -- to rebuild piers and buildings destroyed by the fire.

In January, 41 maritime businesses sent "Keep NOAA in Seattle" letters to Congressman Norm Dicks, Congressman Jim McDermott, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Senator Patty Murray. In March, Nickels sent a letter to newly appointed NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco describing NOAA's importance to our maritime businesses and our economy.

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Office of the Mayor