Contanda expansion proposal

Background

For the original proposal submitted by Westway Terminal Co., Ecology and the city of Hoquiam as co-lead agencies issued a Determination of Significance/Scoping Notice under SEPA and prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (issued August 31, 2015) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (issued September 30, 2016).

Contanda Terminals, formerly Westway Terminal Co., operates an existing methanol terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor. The facility currently includes a tank area consisting of four storage tanks with a total of 13.4 million gallons of storage,and a rail yard. The facility receives and ships methanol via train, truck, and vessels.

The company is now proposing a revised bulk liquid storage facility expansion project. Contanda Terminals submitted a new Shoreline Substantial Development Permit Application to the city of Hoquiam on January 25, 2018.
 

Project proposal

The proposed project would involve constructing up to eight additional bulk liquid tanks of product totaling approximately 46.2 million gallons and associated support facilities, including ship, truck, and rail infrastructure to receive, store, load and unload bulk liquids for off-site shipment.

Key components of the newly proposed facilities include the following:

• Up to eight additional bulk liquid storage tanks
• Associated pipelines
• Rail spur and rail loading and unloading facilities
• Vessel-loading and unloading facilities, including a marine safety unit and a vapor combustion unit
• Truck-loading facilities
• New structures and buildings (e.g., office building, operation and maintenance building.

There would be no in-water work.

The company estimates that terminal operations would handle 408 trains a year (loaded and empty) or 1.1 trains every day. The company estimates that the terminal operations would handle 96 vessel entry and departure transits or approximately two vessel trips per week.

Next steps — environmental review

• The co-leads, Ecology and Hoquiam, are currently reviewing the application materials submitted to the city on January 25, 2018, and determining the next steps. The project is in the very early stage of the environmental review process.
• No permit considerations may be made until after environmental review is completed.  The permit process will follow all applicable local, state, and federal requirements.