Grays Harbor terminal expansion environmental reviews

Ecology and the City of Hoquiam co-led environmental reviews for the proposed Contanda and the proposed Renewable Energy Group (REG) crude oil expansion projects at the Port of Grays Harbor. While these projects are separate, some stages of the environmental review process, like scoping meetings, were jointly conducted to save time and money.

The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Contanda proposal was issued Sept. 30, 2016. The project is now in its permitting phase. REG elected to pause and revise its expansion proposal when the comment period for its draft EIS ended on Nov. 30, 2015. REG is now revising its expansion proposal, which will not include crude oil.

SEPA and Environmental Impact Statement process

Ecology and the City of Hoquiam conducted the environmental reviews in Grays Harbor according to the State Environmental Policy Act, commonly called SEPA. The 1971 law requires an environmental review if a project proposal is likely to cause significant negative environmental impacts.

The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement is to provide the public and agencies making permit decisions with information about the proposed location.