NorthCoastOregon.com

On Mar 4, 9:07 PM, THartill wrote:

You must have been at the meeting today....yeah parking is going to cause some troubles over the next few months.

On Mar 14, 10:16 AM, Floyd Holcom wrote:

In the possibilities of “Home Porting” NOAA’s Fleet from Seattle which is currently being discussed here locally. For over a year, local individuals have been analyzing this potential with an unfortunate shadow of Self-Defeatism resulting from numerous other historical attempts to bring larger federal projects to the Astoria area, with no success.  I would like to see this attitude and direction change.  This time, the potential can not afford to be overlooked.

I have hope that we can convince Senator Smith and our other elected representatives that this would be a viable effort for the following reasons and convince his colleagues that this is not just an economically sound judgment for the US Government, but a good move for Oregon to support it and benefit from it:

Tongue Point, Oregon: 

1. GSA, over the Department of Labor, owns and maintains three piers at Tongue Point under its sub contract program with the Job Corp.

2. The Department of Commerce, the hosting department for NOAA, could quickly perform a property book transfer between the Departments to NOAA, saving millions of dollars in potential outside lease fees. Since GSA already owns the land and piers outside of Oregon State DSL control, no additional fees would be assessed.  This means the assets are already owned by the US Government and long-term money can be saved within NOAA by avoiding other lease arrangements currently budgeted out side of GSA.  These existing transferred funds could be used to enhance the facility to meet NOAA’s needs at Tongue Point.  Its current facility in Seattle is smaller than the area at Tongue Point and more expensive.

3.  Synergistic relationships between the USCG and NOAA have already been proven at Tongue Point and with the recent critical buoy replacement mission NOAA assigned to the USCG Ship Fir, these support facilities already exist for these operations out of Tongue Point and already cover NOAA’s operational mission area.  NOAA’s operational mobility can be further enhanced with quicker access to the ocean at Astoria versus the Puget Sound, saving long-term fuel costs and other operational cost of being located in a distant port and expensive area in Washington State.

4.  A secure facility exists for NOAA at Tongue Point, which could and would supplement future training opportunities for MERTS, which the Senator supported and is actively involved with, as well as attract other scientific programs to Oregon.

5.  Supportive inter-modal access from the revised Rail and existing industrial facilities for the area would logistically support NOAA as an anchor tenant for a much needed economic revitalization for Clatsop County. Since the piers are already owned by GSA, this would create other economic value to this economically depressed area by supporting NOAA’s fleet requirements and attracting private sector companies that already support NOAA to the area.

6.  Washington State, unlike the State of Oregon, has received Trillions of dollars of federal and defense operational budgets including the US Navy Aircraft Carrier Home Port at Everett, Bangor Nuclear Sub-Base, Ft. Lewis/McChord expansion, Spokane USAF facilities and other large Federal Government economic expansions including space missile defense budget residuals. Oregon needs this NOAA facility and the possible ability to jump start our own Oregon economic diversification requirements, should not be overlooked. Astoria’s Tongue Point is already a depressed area that needs this support.

7.  I also have information the US Army Corp of Engineer Dredge Operations in Portland needs to move. With a combined facility at Tongue Point, this would enhance the utilization of government funds and make economical sense for tight US Government Budgets to combine supportive facilities on the Lower Columbia River.

8.  Astoria’s advantage over Newport, Oregon and the Puget Sound/Seattle area will prove to support these vessels by its location on America’s second largest river and again, it’s already owned by GSA.

I believe this concept is a good - natural fit for Oregon. Astoria would make a good fit for NOAA as well as the USACE.

My history with this potential project started right after the massive fire in Seattle that left these NOAA vessels homeless last year.  Let’s bring back this under-utilized US Federal Government facility at Tongue Point and put our Department of Commerce funds to good - economically sound - use. 

Let’s bring NOAA to Astoria.

Thank you for your assistance,

Floyd E. Holcom

On Mar 14, 3:06 PM, Walt wrote:

May be a good fit but, piers built in the late 30’s - 40’s will require
major upgrades? Electrical-phone-cable-sewage-camels-decking-pilings ect!

Been reported that the electrical cables at some of the piers were
removed, scrapped for money a few years back. Good story to research.

The pier depth is suspect and may require dredging. Permitting is another
long term process if required as the local port knows?

On Mar 14, 4:40 PM, Walt wrote:

So?

Hell, you sound like Patrick McGee.

Just pointing out it’s not as simple as just tying up.

It wasn’t a negative response to Mr. Holcums\’s article.

Take a deep breath and relax.

On Mar 15, 12:56 PM, Peter Huhtala wrote:

Floyd’s analysis is excellent.  We should do everything that we can to influence this decision.  The economic opportunities are very real, and the environmental benefits of some cleanup at Tongue Point sweeten the deal.  Senators Smith and Wyden and Representative Wu can make major points in this area if they help push the Astoria option to fruition.  Thank you, Floyd.

On Mar 15, 6:47 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:

An aerail view of Tongue Point

http://www.imagedump.homestead.com

On Mar 15, 9:51 PM, grover wrote:

“Potential Stadium Site”???

WHAT THE F***!!!

On Mar 16, 9:34 AM, Patrick McGee wrote:

““Potential Stadium Site”???

WHAT THE F***!!!

That was for when Astoria was looking for a new site for a stadium to replace Warren Field.

Yes, it would make a great site for a County Multi-Use Stadium.

On Mar 16, 4:02 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:

Football - H.S., Junior High
Track and Field
Baseball/Softball
Soccer
Festivals
State/Regional Tournaments, Playoffs, Auto/Boat Shows
And so on and so on and so on
But that would be looking too far beyond the envelope wouldn’t it?

Yeah, You’re right Groover/Grover....ridiculous!!!!

On Mar 16, 6:27 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:

Considering there’s nothing but empty ground out there now, nothing should be thrown off the table and why should we limit it to an Astoria prject when the county in total could benefit from its use?

Auto/Boat Shows?

Why not?

If it can be marketed year round, look at everythin that would work in there.

A Jazz/Blues Festival for the region?

Why not?

A regional R.V./Outdoor Recreation Show?

Why not?

On Mar 16, 7:35 PM, Patrick McGee wrote:

OK “Grover”.

Never mind.

Thank you for listening.

On Mar 17, 7:11 PM, Floyd Holcom wrote:

Gentlemen:

Lets focus on NOAA here.  We really need everyones support to make this possible.  Once we can get some economic movemement here, there will be a day to debate the nature of additional sports complexes and where they shall go. 

I appreciate your support.  Oh by the way, Walt is correct, but at the NOAA facility in Seattle that they currently lease, it burned down and they have to rebuild it.  It would be fiscally responsible to spend the money on a facility already owned by Uncle Sam, versus a leashold improvement.

Floyd

On Mar 22, 11:38 AM, Floyd Holcom wrote:

NOAA Update:

The Astoria area is no longer out of the running, but it is going to be a challange, which if we gather attention away from all of this political self bashing, we may be able to swing it.  I have positive hope that the GSA piers at Tongue Point get the hard look it deserves.

Here is the current status:

1. Skip Hauke and Mayor Van Dusen are in the lead doing great work.
2. I’m confident that Betsy Johnson and Brad Witt are on board, I have not heard from Debby Boone but I’m told she is behind this.
3. The Port of Astoria commissioners have signed on.
4. I’m pushing Clatsop County Government to provide support, I’m hoping Jeff Hazen and the County Manager make the move this coming week.
5. If Mayor Van Dusen gets all the County Cities sign off, we are closer to an over all political leadership support.
6. Betsy and Brad will push to get Governor Support.
7. All support needs to flow to Oregon Delegation with Strong message, we want NOAA in Oregon and at Tongue Point.
8. Consultants at NOAA need education on Tongue Point/GSA from on the ground and at the Oregon Delegation Level.
9. NOAA starts review this summer of Consultant Report.
10. Media and Editorial Support needs increasing from State wide papers.

What are some of the the positive impacts to the area if we are successful:

1. Great neighbors to our community of about equal to the entire population of the existing Coast Guard activities we have now.
2. Excellent win win with both the academic and existing research community, enhanced education.
3. Side effects like high value and high tech support companies moving in to the area that support NOAA.
4. Potential private sector and government jobs that support NOAA.
5. Trickle down benefits of economies of scale that support shops, arts, education, shopping, visitors and tourists, and the re-development of maritime trade crafts that is slowly declining in our maritime community, such as maritime fuel, mechanics, welders, painters, communication, etc.
6. A reason to move back and stay in our community, from as far down as Arch Cape to West Port.
7. Communties in a 100 mile radius will feel positive impacts while others will see joint cooperation like the Hatfield Facility in Newport and other academic areas at OSU, PSU and UofO.
8. Cross entity operational activites that create an untold positive residual result.
9. More than we can list.

Where do we need to shake the trees to get better vision and direct results from a movement on this:

1. Maritime Museum Director and Board Support
2. Other area Maritime related industry support such as Bar Pilots, River Pilots and Columbia River Operators
3. Academic Institution support at CCC, OSU, PSU, UofO, OGI....
4. All other outside stakeholders and other parts of Oregon support.
5. Educating the rest of Oregon that this attempt benefits the entire State, not just the locals.

This endeavor will take broad and sustaining effort.  I hope we soon can put the effort that we see in the current controversies such as the County/DA/Port/LNG/Development/Disaster in to the communication that this community would benefit for generations to have NOAA here in our area.

Good Luck to All and please give your support to the executives and leadership of our communities who are working on this effort.  Skip Hauke, Willis Van Dusen, Brad Witt, Betsy Johnson and others who spend the extra hours working on your behalf.

Thanks,

Floyd