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PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT OF TACOMA

SIGNING DAY. Representative of Puyallup Tribe of Indians and Port of Tacoma signed an agreement April 22 that will pave the way for future development along Blair Waterway.

Port, tribe sign historic agreement

By Meghan Erkkinen

The Port of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and two development entities signed what many called an historic agreement April 22. The agreement, which the parties hope will be an economic boon for the regional economy, calls for the port and tribe to exchange land and to work together to develop and widen the Blair Waterway.

As per the agreement, the port will transfer about 19 acres to the tribe and the tribe will transfer about 12.5 acres to the port. Both parties have agreed to a project to widen the Blair Waterway, which will be undertaken and managed by container terminal operator SSA Containers Inc. The parties also agreed to cooperate on intermodal rail, road infrastructure and other development opportunities.

The agreement is 20 years in the making, dating back to the 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement, signed into law by former President George Bush. The agreement transferred land to the tribe to enable it to diversify its economic investments.

“The Port of Tacoma and Puyallup Tribe of Indians enjoy a long history of economic cooperation dating back to the historic 1988 Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement Agreement,” said Dick Marzano, president of the Port of Tacoma Commission. “Today’s agreement assures greater cargo capacity for our region, which will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent, family-wage jobs when the terminals open.”

Among those who expressed support for the agreement at the port’s approval of the agreement were Fife Mayor Barry Johnson; Pierce County Director of Government Relations George Walk; former Port Commissioner Jack Fabulich; and representatives of Congressman Adam Smith, Congressman Norm Dicks, Governor Christine Gregoire, and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23.

“The agreements we are celebrating today represent a tremendous accomplishment and economic opportunity for Pierce County and Washington State,” said Dicks in a statement. “The development of new terminals will support thousands of operating and construction jobs while enhancing the reputation of the Port of Tacoma and the State of Washington as leaders in international commerce.”

Similarly, the port commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the agreement.

“It just feels wonderful today,” said Commissioner Clare Petrich. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide for the people of the community. I’m thrilled to be part of this signing and this venture.”

The commission also encouraged the parties to keep up the spirit of collaboration.

“This agreement has a high level of trust built into it,” said Commissioner Connie Bacon. “For this to work it will require vigilance on the part of everybody…The work is just beginning.”

Representatives of the other parties of the agreement were looking toward the future, as well.

“We’ve built a level of trust and cooperation that will lead our relations with the port,” said Chad Wright, CEO of Marine View Ventures, the economic development arm of the tribe. “This is just the start of a much bigger partnership with the Port of Tacoma.”

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