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Port of Astoria Presses Wyden to Streamline Dredge Permits

by Tryan Hartill

Commission meeting with Wyden’s Staff soon

Port Commissioners also had a chance to voice their frustration at Ron Wyden on Friday night.

Commissioners Dan Hess, Bill Hunsinger and Kathy Sanders were all in attendance at Seaside City Hall. Hess started the conversation by asking Wyden why it is so difficult to get permits for maintenance dredging at the Port of Astoria.

Maintenance dredging is an ongoing and annual project that all Ports must go through. River sediment flows down river and collects at various points near the channel. The problem is that the sediment also carries toxins with it from upriver polluters, and if the levels are too high, it can’t be shoved back into the river channel like in years past. The sediment must be tested and placed on the shore to dry.

Multiple permits must be gathered from various agencies every year in order to complete this task. If agencies like the Port of Astoria fall behind in their maintenance dredging, larger ships cannot use the facility. In 2005 the Port was fined for not following the correct permit and test procedures. Now that they are carefully following all measures, the Port can’t get all the permits in time for the December-February dredge season.


Hess: “Why can’t the Senate come up with a single stop, one stop dredge permit?”

Wyden replied that he would try to change the permit process so decisions could be made earlier in the year.

Wyden: “I sit on the Budget Committee and we’re going to try and get that changed…..get the decisions done at the beginning of the year”.

This answer wasn’t good enough for Bill Hunsinger, who followed up Dan Hess with other issues the Port is having, like upland disposal sites for the sediment.

Wyden had staffer Fritz Graham meet with the 3 Commissioners on the spot to discuss the dredge issues. After the short meeting, Ron Wyden’s staff and the Commissioners agreed that there wasn’t enough time to hammer out a solution.

Kathy Sanders: “Due to the complexity of the issue we concluded that we needed to set up a meeting with Fritz Graham at the Port to discuss the matter more in depth. We’ll be getting with him next week to set up a date and time.”

Jan 6, 02:42 am | Tryan Hartill
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4 comments on this article (post your own)

1 On Jan 6, 04:56 pm, Patrick McGee wrote:

Yet another Port Meeting to discuss an issue that should have been recsolved long ago but, for the seeming impasse of egos and a presumed superior knowlege over USACOE, Oregon DEQ, and whoever else who controls the court and the basketball.

This in itself confirms my view that inaction on complying with dredging requirements time after time will speed up the transition of POA to a mere Business Park as it seems to have been headed for the last few years.

2 On Jan 6, 10:46 pm, THartill wrote:

Well lets hope something happens at this future meeting because the way it’s going it could be just the Business park you describe.

Interesting that Tillamook was talking about the options on their rail situation. They were honestly talking about barging cargo from Tillamook to Astoria and then loading it on trains to Portland.

3 On Jan 7, 09:30 am, Patrick McGee wrote:

And what happened to that discussion Tryan.

It’s a good and workable idea as Tillamook has no idea when they will get funding to make repairs.

Hell, I would even explore off and reloading at Tongue Point as an option.

Surely those barges draft less that 24-26 feet.

4 On Jan 7, 01:56 pm, THartill wrote:

Well they are trying to get money out of the State to fix the rail, but it’s gonna cost a bundle….26 million I believe and you know how those estimates are, they seem to double.

That option was being discussed if they are turned down by the State.

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