The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its final determination Thursday over where it would place its pacific Fleet, and Oregon prevailed.

NOAA said that the Newport site offered the best value to the government, with the highest technical rating and lowest price when compared to sites in Washington.

Construction has already started at the site last year, when the state of Washington Congressional delegation began protesting NOAA's selection of Newport, over several potential sites in Washington. The Seattle City Council even weighed in on the effort, sending a terse letter to NOAA about its selection of Newport.

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.

The headquarters will mean 170 employees and four ships would be based in Newport, pumping about $19 million into the local economy.

The Seattle City Council said the basis of its objection was that the Newport site would be located on a floodplain.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it would review potential flooding problems around piers to be built on Newport's Yaquina Bay for the new headquarters, and review if the port has adequate plans for dealing with potential flooding.

The facility will be ready in about a year.