Seattle Port, City Council Clash Over Drill Rigs

A decision by the Port of Seattle to host Shell Oil's Arctic drill rigs has made for tense relations between the port and the Seattle City Council.

1 minute read

May 8, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

On Tuesday, March 5, "Seattle City Council members heard testimony on a resolution…urging the Port of Seattle to reconsider its controversial decision to host Shell Oil’s Arctic drill rigs," according to an article accompanying an on-air radio report on Kuow.

Earlier in the week, Marcie Sillman and Kate O'Connell reported that the city's Department of Planning and Development (DPD) "released an interpretation [pdf] that said seasonal moorage of a drilling rig and tugboats wasn’t consistent with the site's use as a cargo terminal under the Port of Seattle's lease with Foss Maritime."

According to a separate articled by Josh Feit, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has come down on the side of the environmentalists protesting the use of the port for storing drill rigs, though he explained that the DPD announcement won't stop Shell, "but it give the Port a chance for a pause."

FULL STORY: Seattle City Resolution Would Urge Reconsideration Of Oil Fleet Deal

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 in KUOW

Energy Infrastructure Washington Seattle Port of Seattle Shell Oil Drill Rigs Use Permits View More

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