Longview, Wash. port approves grain terminal rail line

Commissioners at the Washington state Port of Longview voted unanimously Sept. 30 to authorize construction of a rail line to service a $150 million grain terminal being built at the port by private developers, according to the Daily News in Longview.

Completing the rail line, considered a key component of the grain terminal project, would require the port to acquire, possibly through eminent domain, a nearly six-acre waterfront parcel owned by RSG Forest Products. RSG plans to build a sawmill facility at the port.

The grain elevator project, in the works since March 2006, is being built by Bunge North America Inc. and Japan-based Itochu Corp., according to the paper. The port has also committed to construct a $6 million berth as part of the grain terminal project.

RSG purchased its 54-acre parcel of Longview property nearly two years ago, but had to put its sawmill plans on hold after learning about the grain terminal project several months later.

The Kalama-based forest products firm does not oppose the grain terminal project, according to the Daily News, but it has already invested in developing portions of the parcel and would prefer not to move.

The six-acre parcel required by the port for the grain terminal rail line, however, would cut off the RSG parcel's access to the Columbia River, a move RSG said would make the firm reconsider the entire sawmill project.