A controversial plan to export logs from Astoria to China is expected to gain approval next week.
The Port of Astoria and Westerlund Log Handlers are closing in on an agreement to develop a log export facility at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Local businesses and residents have criticized the plan, which would create local jobs but shift the milling of Northwest timber from Oregon to Asia, cutting labor costs.
Log exports were a staple of the Port’s business plans for decades, but they weren’t included in the 2003 master plan, which was focused on developing a marine services center, tourism and seafood processing on the central waterfront.
Bornstein Seafood managers have complained loudly about possible conflicts between their business and the Port’s plan to lease Pier 1, Pier 3 and a roadway in between to ship logs to Asia.
Read Cassandra Profita’s full report at the Daily Astorian.
