PORT ANGELES — With the timber and fishing industries experiencing long-term downturns, the Port of Port Angeles has tried to develop marine trades like boatbuilding and ship repair.
In January, the state Department of Ecology accused the Port of getting too far ahead of itself by allowing ship repair work to occur in a waterfront log yard.
The state agency fined the Port $14,000 and said that the repair of larger boats would have to be curtailed in the yard until the Port met several requirements.
On Monday, Port commissioners approved a consulting agreement for planning the shipyard, a significant step to getting the yard permitted for ship repair.
The agreement with the Seattle-based firm Hart Crowser is capped at $100,000 and includes several projects.
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