A coalition of national and state environmental organizations is threatening to go to court to stop the Port of Seattle from leasing Terminal 5 to Foss Marine and become the home port of Shell’s Arctic oil-drilling fleet.
In a letter to the Port, the coalition calls on the commissioners to halt lease negotiations and allow public participation and an environmental review. The letter says the Port should, “and legally must, assess the environmental harm that could befall Puget Sound.”
On Jan. 13, commissioners were briefed on Foss’ plan and authorized the staff to negotiate a short-term lease. The vacant terminal is to be upgraded starting in 2018.