Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Port of Newport can breathe a small sigh of relief.

Thursday the Government Accountability Office dismissed one of the two protests facing the planned move of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific fleet to Newport.

The protest out of Seattle said the Newport site was in a flood-plain, among other issues.

But the GAO says the protest was submitted too late to be considered.

The NOAA decision still faces a protest from the Port of Bellingham. The GAO says it will decide that one by December 7th.