EXHIBIT A: SUSTAINABLE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK POLICY DIRECTIVE
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SECTION 1. Purpose.
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The primary purpose of this policy is to require the application of the Sustainable Evaluation
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Framework to all capital project decisions and selected key operational decisions to advance
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the Port’s sustainability goals and objectives. The policy will advance the Port’s Century Agenda
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strategy to be the greenest, and most energy efficient port in North America and the
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corresponding objectives including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by conserving energy
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and/or using renewable energy.
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The Port finds that to advance these goals and objectives, it is necessary to establish a Port-
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wide process that reduces the environmental and societal impacts associated with capital
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projects and key operational decisions in a manner that is efficient and effective, uses Port
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resources wisely, and provides transparency for the Commission, the public and Port staff.
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SECTION 2. Definitions.
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When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
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given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise:
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“Sustainable Evaluation Framework” refers to a set of criteria recommended and adopted by
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the Commission (Motion 2017-14, adopted December 19, 2017) to assist the Port in achieving
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its sustainability goals. The criteria are in addition to other project evaluation criteria such as
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return on investment or total cost of ownership.
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The Framework criteria are:
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• Reduce GHG emissions
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• Protect health and the environment
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• Increase resilience
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• Support local economic development
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• Advance innovation
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• Leverage and develop partnerships
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• Advance equity
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“Embodied carbon” is the carbon footprint of a material. It considers how much greenhouse
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gas (GHGs) is released throughout the supply chain and is often measured from cradle to
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(factory) gate, or cradle to site (of use).
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“Scope 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions” refers to the GHG Protocol Corporate
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Standard that classifies a company's GHG emissions into three 'scopes.' Scope 1 emissions are
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direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions
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from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not
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included in Scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both
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upstream and downstream emissions.
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“Sustainable Design Approach” is the recommended categories and sustainability concepts,
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approaches, and ideas that staff expect to explore and evaluate for a given capital project. The
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Approach is developed by the Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaboration (SPARC,
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described below) during the planning phases of a given project and will be used by the
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respective project design teams to inform their assessments and analyses to focus on those
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areas that may provide significant sustainability benefits for that project.
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“Sustainable Design Strategy” is the recommended course of action that a project team is
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expected to implement in constructing its proposed project. The Sustainable Design Strategy
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includes the results of the analyses conducted during the design phase of the project and
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recommended suite of actions that are expected to advance the Port’s sustainability goals as
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appropriate for that project.
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“Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaboration” (SPARC) refers to a group of
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internal and external experts as appropriate, determined by the Port as having professional
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expertise related to the sustainability opportunities relevant to a given Port capital project or
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key operational decision.
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“Key operational decisions” are decisions about aviation and non-aviation operations that are
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identified by the Executive Director, Senior Director of the Environment and Sustainability
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Center of Expertise and/or the Director of the effected business unit as in need of review,
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because the decisions have energy use implications, GHG reduction opportunities, or other
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potential sustainability or societal impacts.
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“Port-wide Sustainability Goals” are identified in Exhibit A.
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SECTION 3. Scope and Applicability.
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This policy directive establishes guidance on integrating sustainability into all capital projects
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and key operational decisions across the Port, in an efficient and effective manner. For capital
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projects and key operational decisions that meet the threshold for Commission action identified
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in the Delegation of Responsibility and Authority, all capital project teams and operational staff
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shall integrate sustainable approaches into planning, design, construction, procurement, and
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other operations consistent with this policy. Leasing shall be considered part of the scope of
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this policy per the outcomes of Section 6. G.
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This policy directive ensures that the Port will implement an efficient and effective process for
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developing and implementing sustainable designs for capital projects; creates a responsibility to
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identify key operational decisions that would benefit from a sustainability review; and creates a
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process for reviewing and tracking sustainability outcomes from projects for the Commission
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and public.
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SECTION 4. Responsibilities.
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The Port’s Executive Director or a delegate shall ensure the policy is implemented and
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adequately funded, and that the Sustainable Evaluation Framework is integrated into capital
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projects and key operational decisions across the Port.
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The Executive Director shall also ensure that decisions associated with the application of the
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Sustainable Evaluation Framework are transparently documented and publicly exhibited so
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that the Port of Seattle Commission can review, in public, alternatives and trade-offs that
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describe how a project can meet its GHG and sustainability and other societal goals.
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The Executive Director shall also ensure that the program evaluation meets the purpose and
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timeliness identified in Section 6 of this policy.
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SECTION 5. Policy. To integrate the Framework into capital development design and
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construction processes and key operational decisions, the Port shall:
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A. Develop and implement a tiered approach that focuses Port resources on
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capital projects that have the greatest opportunities to meet the Commission’s directive
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in the Framework:
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(1) Tier 1: Smaller, less complex, projects that would follow Port standards and
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specifications.
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(2) Tier 2: Medium-sized, or more complex, projects that have opportunities for
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sustainability benefit would be subject to targeted sustainability analyses and
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strategies. Tier 2 projects may receive a cost per ton of carbon calculation.
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(3) Tier 3: Large, or the most complex, projects with significant opportunities
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that may require a sustainability certification along with other targeted
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sustainability analyses and strategies, as applicable. Tier 3 projects will receive a
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cost per ton of carbon reduction analysis.
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B. Establish a team of project-specific experts (referred to as the Sustainable Project
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Assessment and Review Collaboration or SPARC) to leverage Port expertise and
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knowledge of existing and emerging sustainability practices for capital projects and key
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operational decisions to:
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(1) Identify, review, brainstorm, and recommend sustainability concepts and ideas
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for project and operational teams to consider and evaluate during the
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development and design stage of Port projects.
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(2) Encourage project and operational teams to evaluate and consider innovative
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strategies to reduce emissions and energy use beyond traditional approaches.
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(3) Select and apply the relevant Sustainable Evaluation Framework criteria to
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highlight tradeoffs and benefits during development of the Sustainable Design
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Approach and review of key operational decisions.
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C. SPARC recommendations shall be documented in a Sustainable Design
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Approach for each capital project and presented to Commission along with the request
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for authorization for design funds.
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(1) The Sustainable Design Approach shall include a recommendation as to whether a
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project should pursue an applicable third-party sustainability certification.
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(2) Capital project teams shall evaluate and quantify the sustainability costs and
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benefits of the Sustainable Design Approaches as part of the design process.
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D. Capital project teams shall work with the SPARC to develop and recommend
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a Sustainable Design Strategy that shall be included in the final construction
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authorization for each project.
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E. The Senior Director, Engineering, Environment, and Sustainability shall be consulted
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regarding any changes to the Sustainable Design Strategy that occur after Commission
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authorization. The Senior Director shall brief the Energy and Sustainability Committee on
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those changes.
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F. Recognize project teams that meet or surpass their project-specific goals to encourage
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innovation and environmental sustainability achievements.
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SECTION 6. Program Evaluation.
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A. Port staff shall prepare and deliver to the Commission an Annual Sustainable Evaluation
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Framework Progress Report by June 30th of each year that includes progress and
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recommendations to achieve the policy outlined in Section 5. The Progress Report shall
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include:
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(1) The Sustainability Scorecard to provide context for progress on reaching GHG
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reduction goals.
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(2) A summary of sustainability elements that have been identified in the
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Sustainable Design Strategies for each project.
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(3) Description of the implementation of the framework as part of each capital
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project and key operational decisions, including those strategies that were
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considered but ultimately not included in the project.
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(4) The estimated GHG emission reductions related to each project and the cost per
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metric ton of GHG reduced for those projects, where such a calculation was
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used.
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(5) Other sustainability benefits associated with projects as appropriate.
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B. By March 31, 2020, present a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document to
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the Commission that includes implementation guidelines for the policies listed in
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SECTION 5 of this policy.
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C. By June 30, 2021, present findings and recommendations to the Energy and
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Sustainability Committee that outlines how key operational decisions were identified
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and how the decisions were delivered to Commission and the public. Incorporate these
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findings into the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
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D. By June 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for incorporating equity
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and resiliency considerations into the Sustainable Evaluation Framework or the final
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Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
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E. By December 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for updating and
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revising Port construction specifications and standards to reflect advancements in
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sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and sustainable design approaches.
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Recommendations will include consideration of total cost of ownership and
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sustainability costs and benefits.
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F. Within 90 days of implementation of this policy, Port staff shall deliver a timeline and
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scope of work for the development and pilot of incentives to reduce embodied carbon
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in construction materials through a partnership with external partners.
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G. By December 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for incorporating
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the development of long-term lease agreements into the Sustainable Evaluation
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Framework and/or the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
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EXHIBIT A
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Century Agenda and Current Port Policies Summary
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A summary of Port of Seattle sustainability goals and objectives as described in the Port’s
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Century Agenda, Environmental Scorecard, and Ground Transportation Principles and Goals
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Policy Directive, and a Commission briefing is provided for reference below:
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Carbon (GHG)
Reduction
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Reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions:
▪ 15% below 2005 levels by 2020
▪ 50% below 2005 levels by 2030
▪ Carbon neutral by 2050 or carbon negative by 2050
Scope 3 emissions:
▪ 50% below 2007 levels by 2030
▪ 80% below 2007 levels by 2050
Energy
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Meet all increased energy needs with conservation and/or
renewables.
Airport Ground
Transportation Policy
Directive
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Reduce curbside private vehicle pickup/drop off from 41 percent to
30 percent of mode share by 2030.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives. Downloaded October 2019.
https://www.portseattle.org/page/century-agenda-strategic-objectives.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Objectives, 2019.
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Reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from passenger vehicles to 50
percent of 2007 levels by 2030.
Maintain a maximum 15-minute travel time from the airport clock
tower to terminal curb or parking garage.
Air Pollution
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Reduce particulate matter pollution by 50% from 2005 levels.
Water Quality
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Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater leaving Port-
owned or operated facilities.
Waste Reduction
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Solid waste: 60% diverted from landfills
Construction waste: 90% diverted from landfills
Habitat/Land
Restoration
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Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the
Green/Duwamish watershed and Elliott Bay.
Water Conservation
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Reduce projected future water consumption by 12% by 2030
Northwest Ports Clean
Air Strategy
Guides clean air goals for Northwest Ports.
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Revision History
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Port of Seattle Commission Resolution No.3759, July 9, 2019.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
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Port of Seattle Environmental Scorecard, 2018.
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Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
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Strategy for a Sustainable Sea-Tac. Commission Briefing, 2/10/2015.
