In this Issue
PNWA Prioritizes Community Engagement in 2025
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) is kicking off 2025 with a strong emphasis on personally connecting with members and the broader community. Expanding community engagement is a key focus for the organization this year.
In early January, PNWA’s Neil Maunu presented at the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland to the Idaho Wheat Commission, as well as to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Leadership Cohort at Portland State University. These sessions showcased PNWA’s impactful advocacy work, underscoring the organization’s commitment to addressing important regional issues.
Neil also traveled to Idaho, where he spent time with Mike Edmondson of the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation. Their discussions covered a variety of topics, including salmon returns, juvenile fish passage, grizzly bears, and drift boats. The visit included a presentation at the Idaho Water Users Association conference, with a focus on the Columbia River and PNWA’s efforts to tackle critical environmental and waterway challenges.
With a continued commitment to strengthening partnerships and enhancing community engagement, PNWA is eager to support local efforts. Organizations interested in having PNWA participate in community presentations are encouraged to reach out.
Please join Renewable Northwest and BW Research for an introductory webinar, “Pacific Northwest Ports and Floating Offshore Wind,” on Friday, January 31 at 11AM PT. We will share an overview of our new Ports Manual and how to use it, run through the state-of-play for offshore wind in the U.S. and Northwest, and provide plenty of time for Q&A dialogue with attendees. We hope this will be an informative hour for learning how ports and businesses in the Pacific Northwest can partake in the floating offshore wind supply chain, and provide insight as to how the industry will advance on the West Coast in the coming years.
Who should attend: Port managers, business owners, economic developers, policy professionals, state and local government, and anyone interested! This will be geared towards Oregon and Washington.
Register here! Please hold Friday, January 31 at 11AM PT on your calendar; a calendar invite with Zoom invite information will be sent out to registrants.
FY25 PIDP NOFO
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided $2.25 billion for the PIDP program over five years (2022-2026), $450,000,000 of which has been made available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. In addition to the FY 2025 BIL PIDP funds, FY 2025 Appropriations Act funding, if appropriated, and unobligated prior year PIDP funds may also be made available in the future. Please check the PIDP webpage and the Grants.Gov PIDP FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for related updates.
For reference, the FY25 PIDP NOFO can be found here. PIDP applicants can also find the FY25 PIDP Grants.Gov funding opportunity here.
Applications for FY25 PIDP are due by April 30, 2025 at 11:59:59 p.m. E.D.T.
Thank you for joining our recent webinar with the Washington State Emergency Management Division. We greatly appreciate Brian Terbush and Ethan Weller for sharing their valuable insights with the maritime industry.
Port of Tacoma Stormwater Case
As you may recall, PNWA participated in the amicus brief filed by the Washington Public Ports Association supporting the Port of Tacoma’s stormwater case to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. The question of the case is whether or not citizen lawsuit provisions allowed under the federal Clean Water Act can also be used to enforce state clean water regulations that exceed the federal standards under the Clean Water Act. The 9th Circuit Court representing our region ruled that citizen lawsuits to enforce state regulations and the 2nd Circuit Court representing the New York area ruled the exact opposite. It is hoped that this circuit court split would elevate the case for an ultimate decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
On January 13, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States asked the Solicitor General of the United States to review whether certiorari should be granted in the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance v. Port of Tacoma litigation to bring the case before the Supreme Court and invited the Solicitor General to submit a brief expressing their view.
It is our understanding, the Solicitor General’s office would provide an opportunity to meet with the Port of Tacoma in advance. In response to the Solicitor General’s recommendations, it is also our understanding that the Port of Tacoma would be able to file a brief in response to the Solicitor General’s recommendation. It is anticipated that the Court could decide in June whether or not to take up the case. If certiorari is granted, it is most likely that the case would be argued this fall. This is encouraging news and the strong amicus briefs in support of certiorari have helped move this case one more step forward.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to reach out to Ryan McFarland rymcfarland@nwseaportalliance.com or to the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s General Counsel, Dana Henderson dhenderson@nwseaportalliance.com.
Agencies Seek Comment on Draft Lower Snake River Water Replacement Study
The Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology are seeking comments on the draft lower Snake River Water Supply Replacement Study.
The goals of the study are to:
- Obtain a detailed understanding of current water supply and irrigation, municipal and industrial uses near the four Lower Snake River dams (Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, Lower Granite) in Washington and Idaho;
- Evaluate impacts to water delivery in the event Congress were to authorize breach of the dams;
- Analyze potential solutions for water supply replacement and identify implementation considerations.
All comments must be submitted or postmarked by Mar. 1, 2025. The draft study can be found here: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/fcrps/lsrws.html.
Comments can be made via a web form linked in the web page listed above or at:
https://forms.office.com/g/rXJLXfytkC, emailed to bor-sha-lsrwsrscomments@usbr.gov, or mailed to:
Jarrett Redman
Bureau of Reclamation
Columbia–Pacific Northwest Regional Office
1150 Curtis Road
Boise, ID, 83706-1234
Water Replacement Study Open House
What: Water Placement Study Open House
When: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. February 5, 2025
Where: Lewiston Library, 411 D. Street
PNWA Website Updates
Member Directory
We’re excited to announce that the updated PNWA Member Directory is now live! This new version makes it easier than ever to search for members by location, category, and more. Each member now has their own dedicated profile page, complete with contact details and information about the services they offer. Take a moment to explore the updated directory and ensure your profile is up to date. If you notice any details that need adjustment, please feel free to email me, and I’ll make sure everything is updated promptly. We’re committed to keeping the directory as useful and accurate as possible for all our members!
Newsletter and & News
We’ve made several exciting updates to our website to enhance the user experience and provide our members with easier access to key information. Our newsletter has also undergone a transformation. Previously distributed as an email and saved as a PDF document on our website, the updated version is now posted directly on our site. Once published, we’ll send an email notification to our members. This new format will make the newsletter more searchable and accessible, improving your overall experience. We’re confident these changes will help streamline your interaction with our site and keep you informed more efficiently.
2025 Mission to Washington, DC
Marriott Capitol Hill
175 L Street NE
Washington, District Of Columbia, USA, 20002
MARCH 10-13, 2025
The 2025 PNWA Mission to Washington promises to be an event you will want to attend! Join us in the nation’s capital as we meet with lawmakers and their offices to ensure our priorities and issues are top of mind. Throughout the program, participants will gain valuable insights and network with key federal agency officials, industry partners, and DC insiders. In addition, we will spend two days on Capitol Hill meeting with the Northwest Congressional delegation. Make your plans to join us today!
PNWA Group Room Rate is full. There are still rooms available at the Marriott Capitol Hill.
Job Opportunities
CRSOA Director of Member Services
The Columbia River Steamship Operators’ Association (CRSOA) is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented professional to support its mission of promoting safe, reliable, and cost-effective practices within the maritime industry. This role combines executive-level administrative support with responsibilities in membership services, events coordination, and communications. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to manage priorities independently within a fast-paced environment. CLICK: https://www.crsoa.net/industry-job-postings.html
American Cruise Lines Government Affairs Manager
We are seeking a Government Affairs Manager for the Pacific Northwest. Our rapid expansion has made us the largest operator of overnight passenger vessels in the U.S. domestic maritime. The Pacific Northwest has become a key growth market. The newly created position will challenge a dynamic individual to represent American Cruise Lines at the state and local levels as it seeks to protect the navigability of inland waterways and invest in port infrastructure in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. CLICK: https://www.aclcareers.com/government-affairs