PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION AGENDA
Item No.
4a
Date of Meeting
April 5, 2011
DATE: March 29, 2011
TO: Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
FROM: Jane Kilburn, Director, Public Affairs
SUBJECT: Special Order of Business: The Port Centennial 1911-2011
BACKGROUND:
In celebration of the Port of Seattle‟s Centennial, at the first meeting of every month in 2011, the
Port will share a moment of the Port‟s history.
By the time our nation observed the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, the Port of Seattle was
already looking at its operations through an environmental lens. In 1971, Seattle became the first
West Coast port to create a staff position focused entirely on ecological considerations – in this
case, to manage wildlife habitat and relocate birds so they do not become hazards for aircraft.
Currently, the Port has between 45 and 50 staff positions primarily involved in environmental
issues. Almost all other Port staff positions have some environmental content because
environmental considerations are thoroughly integrated into the Port‟s operations and
management.
In 1974, the American Association of Port Authorities gave the Port of Seattle its first-ever
environmental excellence award. Many more environmental awards have followed, including
the Environmental Protection Agency‟s Clean Air Excellence Award in 2008, Cascade Land
Conservancy's “The New Directions for Livable Communities Award” in 2008 for the Port‟s
conservation efforts establishing the Green Airport Project, the American Association of Port
Authorities 2010 Comprehensive Environmental Management Award for the "Environmental
Compliance Assessment Program,” and the Airports Council International – North America‟s
2010 Environmental Achievement Award.
Today, our tagline is „where a sustainable world is headed‟, and our environmental advantage
has become a competitive advantage for us, our partners and local business. Our 2011 budget
reflects our ongoing commitment to environment stewardship with significant investments in
environmental mitigation, energy conservation and emissions reduction programs.
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SPECIAL ORDER:
A Long Environmental History - Seattle-Tacoma Airport raptor relocation, 2002 (slide).
