OLYMPIA — Gov. Christine Gregoire this week said in writing what she has stated publicly:
The Port Angeles graving yard will remain closed for good while the state looks for a new site.
In a Jan. 21 letter to Gregoire, Port Angeles Mayor Richard Headrick had asked the governor to “reconsider your direction to the [state Department of Transportation].”‘
Gregoire sent her written response to Headrick on Wednesday, Gregoire spokesman Jerry Gilliland said.
In the letter, Gregoire said, “As DOT begins its new site selection process, I have requested that the utmost consideration be given to locating the new graving dock facility on the Olympic Peninsula if possible.”
Still holding hope
But Headrick said Thursday he still holds out hope that the site might be reopened.
He said he’s sorry about her decision.
“She’s the governor. She can decide what she wants, and I can disagree or not.”
Added Headrick: “I’m still trying to get the facts.”
Gilliland said the decision to shut down the graving yard was made before Gregoire was governor.
Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald and former Gov. Gary Locke closed the site on Marine Drive on Dec. 22 after hundreds of Native American remains and thousands of artifacts were discovered and unearthed during construction.
“This decision was made before the governor was even governor,” Gilliland said of Gregoire.
“She has said it’s time to move on to deciding where to locate the graving dock. That’s what the Department of Transportation is concentrating on.
“There is no reconsideration of putting the graving dock [in Port Angeles].”
