Shell Oil’s Arctic rig permit hearing set for July 23

A hearing has been set for July 23 for the Port of Seattle and Foss Maritime’s appeal to the City of Seattle’s interpretation that the port needs a new permit to host Shell’s Oil’s rig Polar Pioneer.

Representatives from all parties attended a prehearing conference Wednesday with deputy hearing examiner Anne Watanabe to discuss the timeline and to estimate how much time the parties will need for witness testimony.

Watanabe has tentatively scheduled July 23 and July 24 to hear the testimony, but it could take more time if the two parties hoping to join the case are approved and allowed to add additional witnesses.

A coalition of environmental groups have filed a motion to participate in the hearing on the side of the city and another motion will be filed this week on the side of Foss and the port.

Watanabe said the schedule could be readjusted if there are any problems along the way. “I’ll handle those as they are brought up,” she told the lawyers seated around a table in a small conference room.

Wednesday’s conference came one day before the June 4 deadline the city put in place to have the Polar Pioneer out of Terminal 5. However, because Foss and the port last week requested a director’s review for the notice of violation, the compliance date has been put on hold.

The parties will not be fined while the appeal is going through the hearing examiner, planning department spokeswoman Wendy Shark said.

Foss spokesman Paul Queary said Shell is continuing to prepare and load the Polar Pioneer for the exploration season.