Template revised April 12, 2018.

DATE: December 3, 2018

TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

ACTION REQUESTED

Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to reauthorize and execute two

5-year agreements between the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and

the Port of Seattle for managing human-wildlife conflicts on or near Port property for the

period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2023, in the amount of $1,560,000 for a

Cooperative Service Agreement and $15,000 for an Interlocal Agreement for a total of

2018, the USDA-WS did not send the subject agreements to Aviation Operations staff until

November 2, 2018.

The first agreement is a 2019-2023 Cooperative Service Agreement (CSA) specific to the 5-mile

area around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The USDA-WS would assist Aviation

Operations with Airport Wildlife Damage Management (WDM) activities that the Port is

required to perform primarily at the Airport pursuant to Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Code

of Federal Regulations 14 CFR Part 139.337, certain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Advisory Circular (AC) publications, the Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP), and

further environmental regulations associated with the third runway (16R/34L) wetland

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

duration of the 5-year agreement at 80 hours per week. No increases to the Aviation

Operations budget are being requested for this CSA.

The second agreement is a 2019-2023 Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for maintaining a satisfactory

Canada goose population within the greater Seattle metropolitan area. The FAA ranks the

Canada goose as one of the most hazardous birds to aviation safety as evidenced by the

January 2009 Miracle on the Hudson, when a large commercial aircraft was forced to ditch into

the Hudson River after striking this species. The ILA currently includes nearly a dozen entities

within King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The monitoring and control work can be

performed on both Aviation and Marine Division properties if requested by the Port. This ILA

The USDA-WS is an agency considered to be an unbiased, independent third-party contractor

by state and federal regulators. If airport features such as the wetland mitigation sites near the

airport become a hazardous wildlife attractant, the USDA-WS can work with the Port and other

agencies to help craft alternative habitat management solutions reduce wildlife-related threats

and further improve aviation safety. USDA-WS conducts formal airport Wildlife Hazard

Assessment (WHA) surveys approximately every 7 years in compliance with the intent of FAA

Advisory Circulars (AC). The recent WHA began in 2018 and will be finalized in 2019.

The USDA-WS is the only agency regulators will allow to perform much of the work related to

Canada goose population management from March through August, the period in which the

educational information, non-lethal techniques, and if necessary direct control (euthanasia) to

reduce immediate threats. These actions are allowed under permits issued to the Port by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The USDA-

WS personnel will coordinate with the Airport Wildlife Manager, other Port staff and wildlife-

related contractors with regard to their wildlife hazard mitigation efforts under the terms of

this CSA.

The USDA-WS will provide a monitoring program to detect wildlife hazards associated with

airport water features such as wetlands and stormwater ponds, both of which can be

compatible with aviation safety when properly managed. Their services include regulatory

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

compliance monitoring associated with the airport’s wetland mitigation site permits, data

collection and management, and wildlife hazard mitigation and assessments conducted on and

within several miles of the airfield.

Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management Agreement – The purpose of this ILA is to provide

joint funding for a multiparty regional approach to population monitoring and where necessary

a program comprised of egg adding (sterilization) and euthanasia of the Canada Goose within

King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. This program will assist each party communicating the

importance of this work which may be performed on either public or private property

depending on the signatories of the ILA.

efforts will be in the form of finalizing the second year of an airport Wildlife Hazard Assessment,

a report that will include third-party recommendations pertaining to hazardous wildlife species

observed and habitat features that may be attracting them to the airport vicinity out to 5 miles.

The Wetland Mitigation Monitoring surveys include the areas near the airport, a wetland

mitigation site associated with the SR-509 corridor and the Port-owned wetland sites in the City

of Auburn. Data management assistance comes in the form of investigating wildlife-aircraft

strikes, monthly summaries of their control actions, distribution of strike reporting kits to

airlines and issues with small mammals that can damage berms of stormwater ponds and raise

water levels and attract waterfowl. Other USDA-WS activities include trapping of hazardous

Operations employees in the safe use of pyrotechnics, firearms, and equipment needed for

capture of wildlife and domestic animals.

USDA-WS will use best management practices to implement a program of standardized

monthly goose population surveys, egg addling, removal, and evaluation. Where possible,

community outreach and educational programs such as ‘don’t feed wildlife’ and interpretive

signage will be initiated.

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

dates when approved with signature of the Managing Director Aviation.

Alternative 1 – Do not reauthorize the CSA or the ILA.

Cost Implications: $0

(1) CSA - None

(2) ILA - None

Cons:

(1) CSA – Airport wildlife hazard management is mandated by FAR 139.337, meaning

much of the required wildlife hazard management work would stop January 1, 2019.

The options of hiring a private sector contractor or adding more Port employees to

perform this work in 2020 and beyond will be explored in 2019. An unbiased third-

party contractor would still be needed to conduct some of the WDM work such as

surveys.

This is not the recommended alternative.

Alternative 2 – Reauthorize both the CSA and the ILA.

Cost Implications: $1,575,000

Pros:

(1) CSA – The Port would remain in compliance with FAR 139.337.

(2) ILA – The Port would remain in compliance with the intent of the airport WHMP and

the Airport Certification Manual.

Cons:

(1) CSA - None

Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.

(2) 2019 USDA-WA Work Plan/Financial Plan

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS

August 4, 2015 – The Commission authorized execution of the 2015-2018 Interlocal

Agreement between Port of Seattle and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife

Services, for Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management Program for $8,920.