Oregon Public Broadcasting

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday that it plans to re-examine the decision to locate its Pacific fleet in Newport, Oregon.

The announcement comes in response to a critical report by the Government Accountability Office. Chris Lehman reports.

When NOAA announced last summer that it would move its Pacific fleet to Newport it triggered a celebration in Oregon. But Washington politicians cried foul and a competing port in Bellingham filed a protest.

The Government Accountability Office upheld that protest and said that NOAA failed to examine all possible alternatives.

NOAA now says it will reassess its decision.

Oregon elected officials such as Democratic Senator Ron Wyden are confident Newport will still get the fleet.

Ron Wyden: "We have always said that as long as this is done by the book, as long as the judgment is on what is the best value for taxpayers, the best facility for a fleet, we feel Newport will prevail."

As part of its reassessment, NOAA will respond to criticisms that the Newport location is in a floodplain.

The agency says it doesn't mean work that's currently underway in Newport will stop.

Online:

NOAA's reponse to the GAO report