Washington Tire project advances

EPHRATA — After meeting with American Tire Company officials this week, Port of Ephrata Manager Mike Wren announced Thursday a project to build a tire manufacturing plant is advancing.

Roughly 827 new jobs are expected when the project is completed near Ephrata.

“They are really trying to make that work here,” he said during a Grant County Economic Development Council luncheon. “I have no doubt of their intent to do that.”

He expects land for the project to be released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in mid-April. The land is a former defense site on port property.

Between Jan. 11-15, a public meeting will be held in Ephrata. Once the date is set, it will be advertised, he said.

The port is required to have a public meeting to surplus property and wants to make sure residents have input on the project, he said.

A company environmental consultant is attending the meeting to explain impacts of the project.

Company officials will discuss the plant’s opening and answer questions.

If there’s opposition, people can make it known through the FAA.

He said he would be surprised if there is any, as he hasn’t heard of any objections.

People can start sending their comments and questions to the Port of Ephrata by mail, PO Box 1089, Ephrata, 98823, e-mail office@portofephrata.com or fax to 509-754-5119.

The comments will be given to the FAA to be advertised in the federal registry for 90 days, he said.

Another important step is the completion of the company’s state air quality application, which the state Department of Ecology (DOE) is reviewing.

According to Wren, the state’s initial assessment found the project has no air quality impacts beyond the property’s borders and doesn’t require a health risk analysis or a Tier 2 analysis.

A Tier 2 analysis involves the DOE determining health impacts of the emitted toxic air pollutants, according to the DOE’s Web site.

American Tire makes tires for mining equipment and is also known as Washington Tire.