Resolution 3767 – Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Page 2 of 4
increased participation by WMBE in Port contracting for public works, consulting services,
supplies, material, equipment, and other services; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the Port established an Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to
address institutional racism and increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in Port policies,
processes, and programs; and
WHEREAS, the Duwamish Valley Community (Community) consists of groups or
individuals that collectively live, work, play, study, and worship in the neighborhoods of South
Park and Georgetown along the Duwamish River who have historically and currently been
impacted by economic, racial, and environmental injustices, including the Duwamish People,
the first people of Seattle; and experience disproportionately high environmental health and
socio-economic burdens; and
WHEREAS, the 2013 Cumulative Health Impacts Analysis published by Just Health Action
and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group characterizes the
Duwamish Valley Community as experiencing environmental justice issues such as
disproportionate exposure to air pollution, lack of greenspace, and high poverty rates
contributing to a life expectancy in South Park and Georgetown that is 13 years lower than
other communities in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle’s 2017 Preparing for Climate Change Strategy Report
identifies this community as one of the communities that will be most impacted by climate
change conditions such as extreme heat, rising sea levels, and flooding; and
WHEREAS, the Port seeks alignment with the City of Seattle Resolution 31567 and King
County Motion 2015-0167 related to the Duwamish Waterway Cleanup and the health of
communities adjacent to the Lower Duwamish Waterway, and other public agencies who have
recognized historic and present inequities experienced by the Community, and have launched
long-term initiatives within their own operations, such as the City of Seattle’s Duwamish Valley
Action Plan that addresses environmental justice and equitable development in the community;
WHEREAS, the Port has historic involvement in the Duwamish Valley through Superfund
cleanup and remediation as part of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) along with
the City of Seattle, King County, and Boeing., and LDWG has collectively invested approximately
$50 million in investigating contamination in the Lower Duwamish waterway, developed
approaches for cleanup of the waterway and means to prevent recontamination through
source control; and the Port of Seattle has individually already invested nearly $13 million into
the cleanup of Terminal 117 Early Action Area; and