Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
March 26, 2024
DATE: March 5, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director, and Karen Goon, Deputy Executive Director
FROM: Laurel Dunphy, Director Airport Operations
SUBJECT: 5-Year Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl Management and 2024 Cooperative
Service Field Agreement with US Dept of Agriculture
Amount of this request:
$12,500 for 5-Years
Total estimated contract cost:
$12,500 for 5-Years
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director or Designee to sign and execute
the next 5-Year Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management Program and
the first year’s Cooperative Service Field Agreement between Port of Seattle and United States
Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to begin in 2024.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Commission authorization is requested for the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, or
designee to sign and execute the next multi-agency 2024-2028 (5-year) Interlocal Agreement for
the Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management Program and the first year’s 2024 Cooperative
Service Field Agreement between Port of Seattle and United States Department of Agriculture
Wildlife Services so wildlife damage management services can continue. The last 5-year
agreement involving the Port expired in 2023. Continuing with these agreements helps the Port
meet the intent of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 139.337 and the Wildlife Hazard
Management Plan, which is part of the Airport Certification Manual. Total cost for all services
provided under these agreements equals $12,500 ($2,500 annually) and are included in the
airport’s baseline Operational Budget for 2024 through 2028.
JUSTIFICATION
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (Airport) Wildlife Hazard Management Plan
(WHMP), Appendix 1 of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved Airport
Certification Manual (ACM), requires the Port to manage wildlife that is hazardous to
aviation safety.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b. Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
• Canada Geese and other waterfowl have been documented to impact human health and
safety by contaminating land and water with their droppings and being a serious risk to
aviation safety (reference “Miracle on the Hudson”, 2009).
• The Port of Seattle has been a member of the Seattle Waterfowl Management Committee
(SWMC) via the Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management
Program (Interlocal Agreement, ILA) for over a decade to manage local Canada Geese
populations at a regional level.
• Port of Seattle participation in the Interlocal Agreement is the only effective way of
controlling goose numbers off airport property.
Diversity in Contracting
Not applicable. Request is for an interlocal agreement, not a procurement.
DETAILS
The Port of Seattle is required to manage wildlife hazardous to aviation safety as per the Wildlife
Hazard Management Plan (WHMP), Appendix 1 of the FAA-approved Airport Certification Manual
(ACM). Canada Geese, large-bodied birds capable of causing significant damage to aircraft, are
hazardous to aviation safety.
The Seattle Waterfowl Management Committee (SWMC), established in 1994, is a resource
management group that has a mission of maintaining manageable numbers of waterfowl,
especially Canada Geese, within King and adjacent counties. The United States Department of
Agriculture Wildlife Services (USDA-WS) receives funds from each participating member to
continue management efforts that include spring/summer population monitoring, egg addling,
and lethal removal. The Port of Seattle, in cooperation with USDA-WS and several SWMC
agencies and municipalities, utilizes the Interlocal Agreement as one of many management
approaches to reduce wildlife hazards to aviation.
USDA-WS provides local Canada Goose damage management services via annual Cooperative
Service Field Agreements (CSFA) with SWMC stakeholders, including with the Port of Seattle. The
cost of USDA-WS services provided under the Interlocal Agreement and CSFA is $12,500 for 5-
years ($2,500 annually) and is included in the baseline Operational Budget for 2024 through 2028.
The attached Interlocal Agreement and CSFA may only be executed by the Executive Director or
Deputy Executive Director per Port Policy EX-2 as authorized by the Port of Seattle Commission.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – No action.
Cost Implications: Zero.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b. Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Pros:
The Port of Seattle saves $12,500 for 5 Years ($2,500 annually).
Cons:
The Port of Seattle risks failing to meet the intent of FAR 139.337 and the Airport’s Wildlife Hazard
Management Plan (WHMP). If the Port withdraws their participation in the ILA then other
agencies may as well, causing the ILA to be less effective at managing local populations. Local
Canada Goose populations will increase, and the risk of wildlife strikes with Canada Geese will
increase. If increased goose populations result in an aircraft accident the Port of Seattle may be
held financially and ethically responsible for failure to act.
Alternative 2 – The Port of Seattle could embark on a new effort to manage local Canada Geese
numbers independent of the Interlocal Agreement.
Cost Implications: $50,000+ for 5 Years ($10,000+ annually).
Pros:
The Port of Seattle will remain in compliance with FAR 139.337 and the Airport Certification
Manual (ACM) and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) so long as the Port takes action
to reduce Canada Goose hazards to aviation safety.
Cons:
The Port of Seattle will be required to enter additional agreements with local landowners for land
access as Canada Geese breed adjacent to, but not on, Port of Seattle property. The Port of
Seattle risks failing to meet the intent of FAR 139.337 and the Airport’s Wildlife Hazard
Management Plan (WHMP) if local populations cannot be managed in cooperation with
landowners. Additionally, the Port of Seattle will be accountable for all wildlife control actions
performed under Port-obtained State and Federal permits to perform work on and off Port
property. Port of Seattle employees and contractors will be exposed to hazards during the
performance of wildlife (Canada Goose) management including working on or near water,
working in public spaces, using firearms on public or private property, and driving on public
roadways.
Alternative 3 – Recommended (Status Quo) Authorize Executive Director, Deputy Executive
Director, or designee to sign and execute 5-Year Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl (Canada
Goose) Management Program and 2024 Cooperative Service Field Agreement between Port of
Seattle and United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services.
Cost Implications: $12,500 for 5 Years ($2,500 annually)
Pros:
The Port of Seattle will remain in compliance with FAR 139.337 and the Airport Certification
Manual (ACM) and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP). Local Canada Goose populations
will be managed by United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services (USDA-WS) on a
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b. Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: March 26, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
regional level via the Interlocal Agreement. USDA-WS will independently obtain any landowner
permissions or stakeholder agreements required to access and manage Canada Geese on
property not accessible by Port of Seattle employees or contractors. The USDA provides all
materials and regulatory permits required to perform Canada Goose management.
Cons:
The Port of Seattle will pay $12,500 for 5 Years ($2,500 annually) for Canada Goose management
services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
$12,500 for 5 Years ($2,500 annually), budgeted in Aviation Operations Wildlife Management
baseline operating budget.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) 2024-2028 Interlocal Agreement for Waterfowl (Canada Goose) Management Program
(2) 2024 Cooperative Service Field Agreement
(3) 2023 Seattle Waterfowl Management Committee Report
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
(1) December 11, 2018 – The Commission authorized the Executive Director to reauthorize and
execute two five-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 $1,575,000.
(2) August 4, 2015 – The Commission authorized the Chief Executive Officer to execute a
multiagency 2015-2018 interlocal agreement between the Port of Seattle and United States
Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services for the Waterfowl (Canada goose)
Management Program. The agreement commits the Port to contribution over four years of
$8,920.
