PORT TOWNSEND — A commercial marine research cruise program plans to offer tours of the area where Fred Hill Materials Inc. is planning to build a 1,100-foot marine pier.
The Menzies Project, started earlier this year by local marine resources consultant Jim Norris, plans to offer tours to the site because of intense interest in the massive gravel pit and pier project.
Fred Hill, a Poulsbo-based company, has yet to submitted an application to build the project, which would include a four-mile-long conveyor belt linking a gravel pit to the proposed pier.
But Jefferson County commissioners are expected to decide next month on whether to set aside a 690-acres as mineral resource land, which would help pave the way for the project.
The tours will largely focus on collecting eelgrass beds, water quality and shrimp data.
Two marine biologists aboard the boat will give talks, answer questions and lead the research. The tours will be aboard the 43-foot RV Mary Beth.
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The rest of the story appears in the Wednesday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on SUBSCRIBE, above, to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.