Port of Chehalis issued unique permit by Corps of Engineers for developing properties containing wetlands

Port of Chehalis officials have announced the signing of a Regional General Permit (RGP) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seattle and Port of Chehalis commissioners that applies to development of Port property located at the Chehalis Industrial Park containing wetlands. The process allows for advanced mitigation, creating shovel ready sites on Port properties. Under the RGP, nominal low-quality wetlands will be mitigated by exchanging them for high-quality wetlands that have been created at a site several miles away in Pleasant Valley near Adna, WA, which is a site more adaptable to wetland development.

Port Executive Director Jim Rothlin said the RGP is the first of its kind issued by the Seattle Corps Region and will substantially reduce the time needed for securing environmental permits needed to develop Port property. As a result, the Chehalis Industrial Park properties should be much more desirable to prospective business clients looking for land that can be developed in a short time frame. Normally, approving a mitigation plan for a site containing wetlands can take two years or more. Under the RGP, that process is greatly simplified and should move forward within a few months.

The Port currently owns 250 acres of developable land at the Chehalis Industrial Park. The newly established wetland site has been created by the Port over the past five years. The RGP uses the Pleasant Valley site as a designated area from which wetland acres will be used as mitigation at the same time as wetlands on Port property in the Port’s Industrial Park are used for development.

Port Commissioner Ken Kostick explained that establishing the Pleasant Valley Site and securing the permit was a part of the Port’s long term goals of creating shovel ready property for businesses looking to bring family wage jobs. “Although a long and arduous process, the proactive approach will present many benefits to future clients while maintaining the balance of our environment,” added Kostick. Federal and State agencies, as well as the Chehalis and Cowlitz Indian tribes visited the Pleasant Valley site to monitor progress during its development and helped create solutions for issues identified during the process that would benefit all parties involved.

The current RGP is applicable for five years and is renewable. Other ports in Washington as well as other entities have been following the process, which could be considered as a standard for future property development in the state.

The Port of Chehalis currently includes over 50 businesses in its Industrial Park, which provide over 2500 jobs to the community.