Commission-Public-Records

From: Mills, Pete

Sent:

Friday, March 27, 2020 1:14 PM

To:

Smith, Lauren (Commission); Dressler, Amy

Subject:

Berkowitz Public Input on Commission item

Categories:

Public Comment

Lauren/Amy

Belowisanemailreceivedregardinganitemonthecommissionagendalastweek.Iwillleaveittoyourjudgementif

thisconstitutespublicinputforthemeeting.

Pete

From: Rich Berkowitz <rberkowitz@trans-inst.org>

Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 2:45 PM

To: Calkins, Ryan <Calkins.R@portseattle.org>; Bowman, Stephanie <Bowman.S@portseattle.org>; Steinbrueck, Peter

<Steinbrueck.P@portseattle.org>; Felleman, Fred <Felleman.F@portseattle.org>; Cho, Sam <Cho.S@portseattle.org>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] Interlocal Agreements to support Smith Cove Blue Carbon Monitoring Study to be discussed in POS March 24

Meeting

WARNING: This is an external email. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the

sender and expect the content of this email to be safe.

Commissioners:

It has come to my attention that funding and approval of an inter-local agreement for the monitoring of kelp and eelgrass production

in Smith Cove will be on tomorrow's agenda for the POS Commission. I would encourage you to support this effort and expenditure

as a number of studies focused on the potential for such production to reduce waterway acidification, increase carbon capture,

improve fish habitat, increasing food production, and impact the release of methane from livestock by up to 90+ percent by using

seaweed as an additive to their feed.

I am particularly interested in the potential for the latter as it could be a way to foster increased southbound trade and improve the

imbalance in trade to/from Alaska. At a time when Alaska is suffering from a severe threat to its economy due to CV-19, low oil

prices, disruptions to its ability to sustain its fish harvesting and processing, a large state budget deficit, and an anticipated dearth of

tourism, finding new export products would be increasingly important to the Alaskan economy. Having some positive data from the

Smith Cove study may be of assistance to their interest in expanding Alaskan mariculture. Furthermore, we could also possibly help

to reduce the impact of methane as a threat to the environment and global warming.

If the Smith Cove Blue Carbon project moves forward I trust the POS would be willing to share its data and research with our

neighbors in Alaska.

Thanks for your consideration.

Best wishes and stay safe!

Rich

Richard Berkowitz

VP, Pacific Coast Operations

Transportation Institute

World Trade Center - West