EXHIBIT A: SUSTAINABLE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK POLICY DIRECTIVE
1
(as amended November 19, 2019)
2
3
SECTION 1. Purpose.
4
5
The primary purpose of this policy is to require the application of the Sustainable Evaluation
6
Framework to all capital project decisions and selected key operational decisions to advance
7
the port’s sustainability goals and objectives. The policy will advance the port’s Century Agenda
8
strategy to be the greenest, and most energy efficient port in North America and the
9
corresponding objectives including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by conserving energy
10
and/or using renewable energy.
11
12
The port finds that to advance these goals and objectives, it is necessary to establish a port-
13
wide process that reduces the environmental and societal impacts associated with capital
14
projects and key operational decisions in a manner that is efficient and effective, uses port
15
resources wisely, and provides transparency for the commission, the public and port staff.
16
17
SECTION 2. Definitions.
18
19
When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
20
given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise:
21
22
“Sustainable Evaluation Framework” refers to a set of criteria recommended and adopted by
23
the Commission (Motion 2017-14, adopted December 19, 2017) to assist the port in achieving
24
its sustainability goals. The criteria are in addition to other project evaluation criteria such as
25
return on investment or total cost of ownership.
26
27
The Framework criteria are:
28
• Reduce GHG emissions
29
• Protect health and the environment
30
• Increase resilience
31
• Support local economic development
32
• Advance innovation
33
• Leverage and develop partnerships
34
• Advance equity
35
36
“Embodied carbon” is the carbon footprint of a material. It considers how much greenhouse
37
gas (GHGs) is released throughout the supply chain and is often measured from cradle to
38
(factory) gate, or cradle to site (of use).
39
40
“Scope 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions” refers to the GHG Protocol Corporate
41
Standard that classifies a company's GHG emissions into three 'scopes.' Scope 1 emissions are
42
direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions
43
Item No. 8c_Policy_Directive
Meeting Date: January 28, 2020
Port of Seattle Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive Page 2 of 6
from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not
44
included in Scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both
45
upstream and downstream emissions.
46
47
“Sustainable Design Approach” is the recommended categories and sustainability concepts,
48
approaches, and ideas that staff expect to explore and evaluate for a given capital project. The
49
Approach is developed by the Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaboration (SPARC,
50
described below) during the planning phases of a given project and will be used by the
51
respective project design teams to inform their assessments and analyses to focus on those
52
areas that may provide significant sustainability benefits for that project.
53
54
“Sustainable Design Strategy” is the recommended course of action that a project team is
55
expected to implement in constructing its proposed project. The Sustainable Design Strategy
56
includes the results of the analyses conducted during the design phase of the project and
57
recommended suite of actions, including potential alternatives that were analyzed in the
58
Sustainable Design Approach, that are expected to advance the port’s sustainability goals as
59
appropriate for that project.
60
61
“Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaboration” (SPARC) refers to a group of
62
internal and external experts as appropriate, determined by the port as having professional
63
expertise related to the sustainability opportunities relevant to a given port capital project or
64
key operational decision.
65
66
“Key operational decisions” are decisions about aviation and non-aviation operations that are
67
identified by the Executive Director, Senior Director of the Environment and Sustainability
68
Center of Expertise and/or the director of the affected business unit as in need of review,
69
because the decisions have energy use implications, GHG reduction opportunities, or other
70
potential sustainability or societal impacts.
71
72
“Port-wide Sustainability Goals” are identified in Exhibit A.
73
74
SECTION 3. Scope and Applicability.
75
76
This policy directive establishes guidance on integrating sustainability into all capital projects
77
and key operational decisions across the port, in an efficient and effective manner. For capital
78
projects and key operational decisions that meet the threshold for commission action identified
79
in the Delegation of Responsibility and Authority, all capital project teams and operational staff
80
shall integrate sustainable approaches into planning, design, construction, procurement, and
81
other operations consistent with this policy. Leasing shall be considered part of the scope of
82
this policy per the outcomes of Section 6(G).
83
84
This policy directive ensures that the port will implement an efficient and effective process for
85
developing and implementing sustainable designs for capital projects; creates a responsibility to
86
identify key operational decisions that would benefit from a sustainability review; and creates a
87
Port of Seattle Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive Page 3 of 6
process for reviewing and tracking sustainability outcomes from projects for the commission
88
and public.
89
90
SECTION 4. Responsibilities.
91
92
The port’s Executive Director or a delegate shall ensure the policy is implemented and
93
adequately funded, and that the Sustainable Evaluation Framework is integrated into capital
94
projects and key operational decisions across the port.
95
96
The Executive Director shall also ensure that decisions associated with the application of the
97
Sustainable Evaluation Framework are transparently documented and publicly exhibited so
98
that the Port of Seattle Commission can review, in public, alternatives and trade-offs that
99
describe how a project can meet its GHG and sustainability and other societal goals.
100
101
The Executive Director shall also ensure that the program evaluation meets the purpose and
102
timeliness identified in Section 6 of this policy.
103
104
SECTION 5. Policy.
105
106
To integrate the framework into capital development design and construction processes and
107
key operational decisions, the port shall:
108
109
A. Develop and implement a tiered approach that focuses port resources on capital
110
projects that have the greatest opportunities to meet the commission’s directive in the
111
framework:
112
113
(1) Tier 1: Smaller, less complex, projects that would follow port standards and
114
specifications.
115
116
(2) Tier 2: Medium-sized, or more complex, projects that have opportunities for
117
sustainability benefit would be subject to targeted sustainability analyses and
118
strategies. Tier 2 projects may receive a cost per ton of carbon calculation.
119
120
(3) Tier 3: Large, or the most complex, projects with significant opportunities that
121
may require a sustainability certification along with other targeted sustainability
122
analyses and strategies, as applicable. Tier 3 projects will receive a cost per ton
123
of carbon reduction analysis.
124
125
B. Establish a team of project-specific experts (referred to as the Sustainable Project
126
Assessment and Review Collaboration or SPARC) to leverage port expertise and knowledge of
127
existing and emerging sustainability practices for capital projects and key operational decisions
128
to:
129
130
Port of Seattle Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive Page 4 of 6
(1) Identify, review, brainstorm, and recommend sustainability concepts and ideas
131
for project and operational teams to consider and evaluate during the
132
development and design stage of port projects.
133
134
(2) Encourage project and operational teams to evaluate and consider innovative
135
strategies to reduce emissions and energy use beyond traditional approaches.
136
137
(3) Select and apply the relevant Sustainable Evaluation Framework criteria to
138
highlight tradeoffs and benefits during development of the Sustainable Design
139
Approach and review of key operational decisions.
140
141
C. SPARC recommendations shall be documented in a Sustainable Design Approach for
142
each capital project and presented to commission along with the request for authorization for
143
design funds.
144
145
(1) The Sustainable Design Approach shall include a recommendation as to whether
146
a project should pursue an applicable third-party sustainability certification.
147
148
(2) Capital project teams shall evaluate and quantify the sustainability costs and
149
benefits of the Sustainable Design Approaches as part of the design process.
150
151
D. Capital project teams shall work with the SPARC to develop and recommend a
152
Sustainable Design Strategy that includes alternatives that were analyzed in the Sustainable
153
Design Approach. The Sustainable Design Strategy shall be included in the final construction
154
authorization for each project.
155
156
E. The Senior Director, Engineering, Environment, and Sustainability shall be consulted
157
regarding any changes to the Sustainable Design Strategy that occur after commission
158
authorization. The Senior Director shall brief the Energy and Sustainability Committee on those
159
changes.
160
161
F. Recognize project teams that meet or surpass their project-specific goals to
162
encourage innovation and environmental sustainability achievements.
163
164
SECTION 6. Program Evaluation.
165
166
A. Port staff shall prepare and deliver to the commission an Annual Sustainable
167
Evaluation Framework Progress Report by June 30 of each year that includes progress and
168
recommendations to achieve the policy outlined in Section 5. The progress report shall include:
169
170
(1) The Sustainability Scorecard to provide context for progress on reaching GHG
171
reduction goals.
172
173
Port of Seattle Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive Page 5 of 6
(2) A summary of sustainability elements that have been identified in the
174
Sustainable Design Strategies for each project.
175
176
(3) Description of the implementation of the framework as part of each capital
177
project and key operational decisions, including those strategies that were
178
considered but ultimately not included in the project.
179
180
(4) The estimated GHG emission reductions related to each project and the cost per
181
metric ton of GHG reduced for those projects, where such a calculation was
182
used.
183
184
(5) Other sustainability benefits associated with projects as appropriate.
185
186
B. By March 31, 2020, present a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance
187
Document to the commission that includes implementation guidelines for the policies listed in
188
Section 5 of this policy.
189
190
C. By June 30, 2021, present findings and recommendations to the Energy and
191
Sustainability Committee that outlines how key operational decisions were identified and how
192
the decisions were delivered to commission and the public. Incorporate these findings into the
193
final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
194
195
D. By June 30, 2021, present to the commission recommendations for incorporating
196
equity and resiliency considerations into the Sustainable Evaluation Framework or the final
197
Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
198
199
E. By December 30, 2021, present to the commission recommendations for updating
200
and revising port construction specifications and standards to reflect advancements in
201
sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and sustainable design approaches. Recommendations
202
will include consideration of total cost of ownership and sustainability costs and benefits.
203
204
F. Within 90 days of implementation of this policy, port staff shall deliver a timeline
205
and scope of work for the development and pilot of incentives to reduce embodied carbon in
206
construction materials through a partnership with external partners.
207
208
G. By December 30, 2021, present to the commission recommendations for
209
incorporating the development of long-term lease agreements into the Sustainable Evaluation
210
Framework and/or the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document.
211
Port of Seattle Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive Page 6 of 6
(POLICY DIRECTIVE) EXHIBIT A
212
Century Agenda and Current Port Policies Summary
213
214
A summary of Port of Seattle sustainability goals and objectives as described in the port’s
215
Century Agenda, Environmental Scorecard, and Ground Transportation Principles and Goals
216
Policy Directive, and a commission briefing is provided for reference below:
217
218
Carbon (GHG)
Reduction
1
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
2
Meet all increased energy needs with conservation and/or
renewables.
Airport Ground
Transportation Policy
Directive
3
Reduce curbside private vehicle pickup/drop off from 41 percent to
30 percent of mode share by 2030.
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
4
Reduce particulate matter pollution by 50% from 2005 levels.
Water Quality
5
Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater leaving Port-
owned or operated facilities.
Waste Reduction
6
Solid waste: 60% diverted from landfills
Construction waste: 90% diverted from landfills
Habitat/Land
Restoration
7
Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the
Green/Duwamish watershed and Elliott Bay.
Water Conservation
8
Reduce projected future water consumption by 12% by 2030
Northwest Ports Clean
Air Strategy
Guides clean air goals for Northwest Ports.
219
1
Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives. Downloaded October 2019.
https://www.portseattle.org/page/century-agenda-strategic-objectives.
2
Port of Seattle Century Agenda Objectives, 2019.
3
Port of Seattle Commission Resolution No.3759, July 9, 2019.
4
Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
5
Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
6
Port of Seattle Environmental Scorecard, 2018.
7
Port of Seattle Century Agenda Strategic Objectives, 2019.
8
Strategy for a Sustainable Sea-Tac. Commission Briefing, 2/10/2015.
