SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION MOTION

TO ACCELERATE SEAPORT CLEAN AIR GOALS TO 2015

JANUARY 4, 2011

Statement in Support of the Motion

In January 2008 the Port of Seattle Commission (“Commission”) adopted the Northwest Ports

Clean Air Strategy to achieve certain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)-required

air quality standards by 2017. The intent of this Clean Trade motion is to call for the Port of

Seattle to implement an accelerated schedule in order to achieve our Clean Air goals by 2015.

There is an urgent need to address the public health risks of poor air quality caused by expanding

container traffic, the continued strength of cruise ship visits, and the associated growth in port

trucking and other landside operations. The Port of Seattle’s seaport is the largest in the Pacific

Northwest, with the most diverse lines of economic activity among all Puget Sound ports.

Additionally, the Seattle metropolitan region continues to experience population growth

commensurate with its stature as a global port city with a world-class public research university

and global headquarters for some of the world’s most respected foundations and companies.

Collectively, these conditions only intensify the pressures on an urban seaport to manage and

reduce environmental impacts on our communities.

Moreover, it is the Port of Seattle’s mission to create jobs and opportunities for the people of

King County while providing environmental leadership and adopting socially responsible

practices to serve the best interests of the broader public. Therefore, this motion also seeks to

address the needs and concerns of short-haul (also known as drayage) truck drivers who keep

goods moving in and out of the Port. The Clean Air program to date has focused primarily, and

appropriately, on reducing harmful air emissions, especially diesel particulates. In the coming

years, we need to achieve our clean air goals while ensuring that we extend a helping hand to

those people who will help us reach those goals. There are also possible further opportunities for

emission reductions within the cargo-handling equipment and ocean-going vessel sectors.

The collaboration with other regional stakeholders that has been a hallmark of the existing

strategy shall continue to be a core element of the accelerated strategy. This motion continues to

honor the commitment to our partner ports in Tacoma and Metro Vancouver; it simply calls for

the Port of Seattle to achieve its clean air goals earlier.

Motion, as amended

Therefore, the Commission adopts a modification to the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy and

stipulates that we aspire to achieve our clean air goals by 2015. The Port Commission directs the

Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to present several options for accelerating the clean air goals

articulated in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, aimed at achieving the currently stated

clean air goals no later than 2015.

Item No.: __8a_Motion_amended_____

Date of Meeting: January 4, 2011______

Updated on January 10, 2011

The strategy shall include developing “Clean Trade” incentive programs for companies and other

participants in the Port of Seattle’s Clean Trucks program. Similar incentive programs shall be

developed for companies in the cargo handling equipment and ocean-going vessel sectors.

The strategy shall also provide information on any impact the accelerated program would have

on the Port of Seattle’s trade competitiveness, as well as how it will be integrated into the Port of

Seattle’s on-going “Green Gateway” program.

The strategy shall be integrated into and fully consistent with the Commission-approved Century

Agenda’s environmental goals and priorities as stated in the Guiding Principles.

The strategy shall take into consideration any newly established EPA air quality standards

related to diesel particulates or other harmful air emissions, in consultation with the Puget Sound

Clean Air Agency and the EPA Region X Administrator.

The strategy shall be informed by the newly acquired air emissions inventory data being

collected throughout 2011. It shall also reflect, to the extent feasible, any other accurate

scientific data available about the risks to public health from diesel particulates and all other

harmful air emissions. The strategy shall provide an explanation of the relative impact of Port of

Seattle-generated air pollution compared with all other sources of air pollution in the Puget

Sound region.

Specifically:

1. The CEO shall present an interim briefing to the Commission in public session in July

2011 to support a public discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with

an accelerated clean air strategy, including topics such as risks unique to the Puget Sound

region; costs of different solutions; emerging technologies that affect affordability;

competitiveness concerns; and other related issues.

2. The CEO shall initiate discussions with the Washington State Legislature, the

Washington State Department of Commerce, the Washington Department of Ecology, the

Washington Department of Transportation, and other state agencies as appropriate, to

develop the Clean Trucks/Clean Fuels Incentives Program:

a. To create an affordable insurance program for drivers, providing reduced

insurance premiums for drivers who participate in the Port of Seattle’s clean

trucks/clean fuels program.

b. To create a “Clean Fuels” tax incentive, providing benefits to drivers and

companies whose trucks use clean fuels.

c. To create a “Clean Trade” rewards program for any companies in Washington

State that support drivers who participate in the Port’s clean truck/clean fuels

programs.

3. The CEO shall direct Port staff to:

a. Conduct the 2011 Air Emissions Inventory Update study throughout 2011 as

previously presented to the Commission, to establish the new baseline of air

quality in the Puget Sound.

b. Present draft recommendations and associated financial costs to the Commission

in public session in December 2011.

c. Present final recommendations and associated schedules and financial costs to the

Commission in public session in mid- 2012, incorporating the final results of the

2011 Air Emissions Inventory Update.