Rainier Petroleum is proposing through a Shoreline Substantial Development Application to install a 204 linear foot catwalk, four new dolphins, fenders and moorage to cargo terminal at 1220 SW Massachusetts at the north end of Harbor Island. A dolphin is a man-made marine structure that extends above the water level and is not connected to shore. Two existing dolphins would be demolished.

The proposed project is located west of Pier 15 1⁄2. The purpose of the project is for continued vessel mooring for Rainier Petroleum for delivering and receiving petroleum products.

The project consists of the removal of two dolphins and the installation of four new dolphins and a 3’-6”-wide grated catwalk connecting the two most southerly dolphins to the shoreline. The two dolphins to be removed are located on submerged land owned by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and leased by Alaska Railroad Corporation. The four new dolphins and catwalk would be located on submerged land owned by DNR and leased by Rainier Petroleum Corporation.

The dolphins to be removed consist of 40 treated wood piles and three steel piles. The piles will be removed entirely using vibratory extraction or by direct pulling.

Three of the new dolphins will consist of four 36”-diameter steel piles with three 16”-diameter steel fender piles protected by HDPE sleeves. The purpose of the project is for continued vessel mooring for Rainier Petroleum.

The project will result in an increase in overwater coverage of approximately 1,111 square feet, which will be mitigated by the removal of an existing overwater covered boat shed and 8 piles at an adjacent property for a net reduction in overwater coverage of 407 square feet. The applicant has applied for and received a shoreline exemption approval for removal of the boat house and associated pilings through Seattle DCI project number 6520545.

Public Comment
The public comment period ended on October 27, 2015. No comments were received.