When Newport, Ore. was chosen as the new headquarters for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Fleet, the announcement came as an unpleasant surprise to Washington State officials. On Monday, Seattle City Council member Jean Godden asked fellow council members to sign a letter protesting the choice of Newport over Seattle. NOAA also passed over Port Angeles and Bellingham in its decision to award the new headquarters to Oregon. "It's looking as if we can make a very good case," for swaying NOAA to reconsider Seattle, Godden said Monday. "Seattle would make a good match [for NOAA]." NOAA announced in August that it would award the 20-year contract to Newport, a small but popular Central Oregon Coast town.

While Newport and Oregon officials celebrated the decision, Washington's officials, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, vowed to protest. In January, NOAA announced it would review its decision to move its Pacific Fleet from Seattle to Newport. NOAA in January contacted the Government Accountability Office, announcing it would conduct an analysis of proposals from the three other locations in Washington. Godden said Oregon State's offer of $40 million to help pay for the headquarters played a role in NOAA's August decision. Oregon officials, however, have said that the contribution was only $19 million.