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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today to a decision by the Government Accountability Office regarding the Marine Operations Center-Pacific project being built in Newport. NOAA will assess whether there is a “practicable alternative” to awarding a long-term lease to the Port of Newport.

According to the letter NOAA sent to the GAO, the review should be completed by May 28. Work on the project will continue during the review.

Andersen-West Coast Contractors is the construction manager-general contractor on the project, which has a construction budget of $28 million. The operations center would serve as the home port for NOAA’s Pacific Fleet, currently stationed in Seattle.

The Port of Bellingham, Wash., which also vied for the operations center, challenged Newport’s selection. The GAO sustained part of that challenge, asking NOAA to look again at potential effects of building in a floodplain, including whether it should build elsewhere.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski issued shortly after NOAA’s announcement expressing his confidence that the selection of the Port of Newport would stand.