Tagpos_sm_2019_11_19(17)

The Port of Seattle's Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive requires all capital projects and key operational decisions to be assessed against a set of sustainability criteria — including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting health, and advancing equity — in order to make the Port the greenest and most energy-efficient in North America. The policy establishes a tiered review process and a team of experts called SPARC to guide project teams in identifying and implementing sustainable design strategies. All decisions made under this framework must be transparently documented and made available for public and Commission review.

Resolution 3767 is a Port of Seattle Commission policy establishing the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment, aimed at addressing historical economic, racial, and environmental injustices experienced by residents of South Park and Georgetown along the Duwamish River. The resolution directs the Port to pursue goals in capacity building, environmental stewardship, and economic development in partnership with local community organizations. It builds on earlier Port equity initiatives, including Priority Hire, Diversity in Contracting, and Welcoming Port policies, to reduce disproportionate burdens on this historically underserved community.

A November 2019 Port of Seattle policy presentation outlines a Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment, highlighting the historic environmental and social inequities faced by Georgetown and South Park residents, including redlining, industrial pollution, highway traffic, and contamination. Health data from a 2013 Cumulative Health Impact Analysis shows that Georgetown/South Park residents have a life expectancy of 73.3 years — more than 13 years shorter than the Laurelhurst neighborhood — and significantly higher heart disease death rates. The policy directive aims to address these compounding environmental burdens through targeted community benefit commitments from the Port of Seattle.

This document is a Port of Seattle map identifying Environmental Remediation Liability Sites at maritime properties in the south Seattle area, including terminals along the Duwamish Waterway. It outlines property boundaries for sites requiring environmental cleanup, such as Terminal 5, Terminals 102–117, South Park Marina, and several waterway areas. The map was presented at a Port of Seattle meeting on November 19, 2019, and is unrelated to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The Port of Seattle Commission introduced Resolution No. 3768 in November 2019, establishing a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive that requires sustainability criteria—including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing equity, and increasing resilience—to be applied to all capital projects and key operational decisions. The policy also creates a Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Committee to oversee implementation and ensure decisions are transparently documented for the public and commission. A two-year reporting schedule was built in to allow the Executive to test and refine the framework across areas such as embodied carbon, construction standards, and long-term lease agreements.

The Port of Seattle's Aviation Environment & Sustainability Department is requesting authorization to enter into a professional services contract worth up to $6.5 million over eight years to handle environmental review and permitting at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The contract would cover compliance with state and federal environmental laws (SEPA and NEPA), obtaining required permits for airport construction and development projects, and supporting sustainability programs such as LEED certification and carbon reduction goals. It replaces an existing contract expected to reach its funding limit in 2020.

The Port of Seattle Commission considered Resolution No. 3763 to adopt the Port's final operating and capital budget for the year 2020, following a planning process that began in April 2019 and included 11 briefings to the Commission, two public open houses, and a public hearing. The budget covers investments at Sea-Tac Airport as well as Maritime and Economic Development divisions, with the statutory budget to be filed with the King County Council and Assessor's Office by December 3, 2019. Note that this document focuses on the overall Port budget adoption process and does not directly address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

Resolution 3768 directs the Port of Seattle's Executive Director to implement a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and integrating sustainability into the Port's capital, operational, procurement, and leasing decisions. The policy establishes targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement, including carbon neutrality for directly controlled emissions by 2050 and a 15% reduction in direct emissions by 2020. It also emphasizes public transparency, requiring the Port Commission to openly review sustainability trade-offs and annually assess upcoming large projects.

The Port of Seattle Commission adopted Resolution No. 3763 on November 19, 2019, setting the Port's final operating budget for the year 2020. The resolution authorizes a property tax levy of $76,384,800 to be collected within the Port of Seattle District, directing King County to assess properties accordingly to fund bond repayments, capital improvements, and general Port operations. The budget reflects the Port's commitments to economic development, environmental sustainability, and support for the maritime, aviation, and cruise industries in the Seattle region.

The Port of Seattle Commission is requesting authorization to spend $28.73 million in 2020 and approve a five-year, $123.3 million plan for cleaning up environmental contamination at Port-owned properties. The funding covers investigations, testing, design, and cleanup at sites including the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site, Terminal 117, South Park Marina, and Terminal 108, where historic industrial activity has left significant pollution liabilities. Note: This document concerns Port of Seattle environmental remediation activities and does not directly address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.