Humboldt Bay Harbor District Approves Chevron Terminal Repairs, Secures Major Grant

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District (Humboldt Bay Harbor District) Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on July 10th, 2025, addressing a range of key issues impacting the local economy and environment. The meeting, lasting approximately 58 minutes and attended by Commissioners Steve Norton, Mike Benson, President Coleman, and Rob Newman, along with the Executive Director and other staff, saw the approval of several significant resolutions.

One major decision involved the Chevron Eureka Marine Terminal repair project. The board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-05, an addendum to the 2016 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and Harbor District Permit 2024-03. This addendum addresses comments from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and incorporates measures to mitigate the project's environmental impact. The resolution ensures the project can proceed while adhering to environmental regulations.

In a significant financial development, the board adopted Resolution 2025-06, authorizing a grant agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the Harbor Safety Committee. This grant, numbered Q2575053, provides an estimated income of \$10,240,000, with estimated expenses of \$9,485,000, resulting in a net income of \$755,000. The budget allocates \$544,000 for debt reduction and \$211,000 for capital projects. The District is also undertaking an internal review of potential fee increases.

The Executive Director's report highlighted numerous collaborations and ongoing projects, including meetings with the Eureka Chamber's Business & Industry Committee, International Ports & Industry representatives, and the ILWU Local 14. The report also touched upon the successful Vero Networks fiber optic cable landing, engagement with the California Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz), and the continued progress of the Tulliwat Spartina removal project and the Cal Poly Osprey Survey. The completion of the Army Corps of Engineers dredge schedule was also noted as a positive development.

The District Planner provided an update on access roads to the Redwood Marine Terminal, focusing on design parameters for both the primary (West Access) and secondary (North Access) routes. The discussion included considerations for roadway design vehicles, speed limits, and safety features for both motorized and non-motorized users.

No public comments were received during the meeting. However, the board announced upcoming meetings in August and September to delve deeper into the budget and project details. Further information on the projects discussed can be found on the Humboldt Bay Harbor District website, https://humboldtbay.org/.

For those interested in learning more about future meetings and how to participate, please refer to the District's website for upcoming agendas and meeting schedules. The District encourages public engagement and participation in its decision-making processes.