PORT ANGELES — A long-awaited environmental permit for the Port of Port Angeles’ proposed vessel washdown site could be fewer than three weeks away.
The state Department of Ecology issued the site’s draft permit March 25. A 30-day comment period now under way lasts until April 24.
The washdown site — to pressure-wash the hulls of dry-docked vessels — and “multipurpose pad,” estimated initially to cost $2 million, would be located in a graveled area now used for storage north of the Westport Shipyard Inc. building.
No public hearing on the environmental permit is scheduled unless “significant public interest” exists or useful information can be produced at the hearing, according to the permit notice.
“This is the final step. This is the final 30-day comment period,” said Port of Port Angeles planner Susan Bauer.
“Supposedly at the end of that period, our permit will be issued — barring something unusual,” she said.
“The official word is there must be substantial comments before they will be considered.”