BOARDMAN – The first shovel of dirt could be turned for Pacific Chemical’s new fertilizer plant in Boardman in February or March of 2003.

Construction should generate jobs for about 1,500 people. After the facility is up and running, about 150 workers will be employed there at an average salary of about $40,000 a year, said Richard Ligon of the Makad Corp., one of the project developers.

Company representatives say it will be the first plant of its kind in the United States and the largest fertilizer plant in the Pacific Northwest. “There’s not another plant like this in Oregon,” said Thane Jennings, air contaminant discharge permit project manager with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Allan Fulsher, general counsel for the project, said once ground is broken it will take about 28 months to complete construction.

The cost of the facility will be about $250 million, Ligon said. It will be built at the Port of Morrow near other affiliate company investments, including the $6 million, 52-room Riverfront Lodge Hotel.

“We’re very proud of the project. We know it is positive for the community and will provide economic opportunities for people in the entire region,” Ligon said.

Jill Miles, regional development officer with the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, said the plant will provide good family wage jobs and benefits to the area.

“A strong partnership involving the city, the Port of Morrow, Morrow County and state agencies helped lay the groundwork for Pacific Chemical’s decision to locate in Boardman,” Miles said.

The plant will occupy about 20 acres of a 90-acre site at the Port of Morrow owned by Pacific Chemical. It will be developed by three partner companies, Makad Corp. of Vancouver, Wash., Makad James Chemical Engineering Company and Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc.

Ligon said the companies selected the Boardman site because of its access to railroads, highways and ports, and its central location to key farm, ranch and forestry markets in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

Fulsher said the partner companies predict the area could use 1.7 million tons of the plant’s fertilizer by 2005. The type of fertilizer is called urea, and is a different type of fertilizer than is now being mass produced, Fulsher said.

Urea is pellets of nitrogen made from natural gas. Because it is not a liquid form, it stays in the soils longer and is less likely to hinder watersheds, Fulsher said. It is being marketed as an environmental alternative to liquid fertilizers.

“Farmers are still using manure, which because of E. coli and foot and mouth disease is not ideal these days. We also believe that urea is a safer alternative to chemical applications of fertilizers and it is easier to apply. Farmers will have to use less fertilizer with urea because of its timed release,” he said.

Rex Mather, Boardman city manager, said he’s glad to see the facility move forward with construction plans.

“We need these jobs,” Mather said. “And we need these people to stay in the community and contribute to civic and service organizations. We’re hoping to see additional housing construction, shopping and office opportunities to go with a new city hall, senior center and parks and recreation facilities.”

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Reporter Carie L. Call can be reached at 1-800-522-0255 (ext. 1-304 after hours) or e-mail: ccall@eastoregonian.com.