PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      5d 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting    October 22, 2013 
DATE:    September 25, 2013 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   John Christianson, General Manager Aviation Maintenance 
Luisa Bangs, Senior Maintenance Manager Facilities, Fleet, Systems, and Grounds 
SUBJECT:  Purchase of Liquid and Solid Pavement Deicers for the Airport 
Amount of This Request:    $3,000,000       Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund 
Est. Total Project Cost:      $3,000,000 
Est. State and Local Taxes:   $294,000        Est. Jobs Created:         N/A 
Net Proceeds to the Port:     N/A 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a five (5) year
contract for the purchase of liquid and solid pavement deicing agents for use at Seattle Tacoma
International Airport for an estimated total amount of $3,000,000. 
SYNOPSIS 
During snow and ice conditions, Aviation Maintenance actively employs a combination of snow
removal equipment and deicing agents to maintain optimal landing surfaces for arriving and
departing aircraft and for vehicle traffic utilizing Airport roadways. The demand for deicer
changes from season to season based on the winter weather conditions experienced. During
heavy storms, it is necessary to execute multiple short-notice/high-dollar value purchases of
liquid or solid deicer to ensure timely delivery of these chemicals. Inability to execute these
purchases could limit Aviation Maintenance's ability to service one or more runways and Airport
roadways and parking facilities, resulting in closures. 
Contract costs over this requested five year period are estimated at approximately $3,000,000; 
however, this amount could be exceeded if significant winter weather conditions are experienced
over multiple years during the five year contract duration. The contract will be structured as a
one-year agreement with four (4) annual renewal options to be exercised at the Port's discretion. 
BACKGROUND 
Aviation Maintenance is charged with executing the removal of snow and ice from runways,
taxiways, and specified Airport roadways and parking facilities. Liquid (Potassium Acetate) and

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 25, 2013 
Page 2 of 3 
Solid (Sodium Acetate) deicers are initially applied to the pavement surfaces in an "anti-icing" 
mode to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement surfaces. These chemicals are also
used for "deicing" if snow and ice has already bonded to the surface. In these situations,
chemicals are applied in the "deicing" mode to break the bond of the snow and ice from the
pavement surfaces in order to remove the contaminants mechanically with the Airport's snow
removal equipment. 
In June 2013, Aviation Maintenance submitted a procurement policy waiver for the purchase of
liquid and solid pavement deicers that was approved in August 2013. 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
Chemical purchases are initially budgeted for and handled through the Aviation Maintenance
annual expense budget. If winter weather conditions are significant and exceed the Maintenance
budget, the Airport strives to absorb the costs within contingency budget or through other budget
savings. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
Ensuring the Airport remains operational during winter weather events supports the Port's
Century objective of meeting the region's air transportation needs at the Airport over the next 25
years. During adverse weather conditions (snow and ice storms), reliable access to and from this
vital transportation hub is essential to public travel and regional commerce. 
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE 
Economic Development 
The use of deicing chemicals is necessary for the Airport to remain operational during winter
weather conditions. Ensuring the Airport remains open and operational provides significant
economic benefit to the Port, its customers, and business partners. 
Environmental Responsibility 
Deicing chemicals have the potential to affect water quality. These effects occur when deicing
compounds degrade in receiving waters (streams and lakes). As they degrade, oxygen is
consumed and oxygen depletion may stress, or if large enough, kill aquatic organisms. The
ability of a compound to deplete oxygen in receiving waters is characterized by a parameter
known as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The amount of BOD exerted by different deicing
compounds varies greatly. The current material used, potassium acetate, is generally known to
have low BOD (less impact on the environment). 
The Department of Ecology required the Port to conduct extensive studies to determine if the
Airport's deicing activities are impacting receiving waters. The studies concluded that the
current materials and volumes applied have no discernible adverse impacts on the local streams.
If a different deicing chemical were to be used, the Airport's National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit requires the Airport determine that it has equal or less BOD

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 25, 2013 
Page 3 of 3 
than the material currently used and/or conduct another study to demonstrate it results in no
discernible adverse impacts to the environment. 
Water quality treatment and flow control is provided for all stormwater discharges within the
Airport's NPDES permit boundary. Stormwater monitoring is conducted quarterly and all
results are reviewed by Port Environmental to determine compliance with NPDES effluent limits
with Discharge Monitoring Reports submitted quarterly to the Department of Ecology. 
Community Benefits 
Availability of deicer products enables the Airport to remain open and operational, supporting
the Airport business partners and the travelling public. 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1)  Adhere to purchasing limits as outlined in Resolution No. 3605, as amended by
Resolution No. 3628. The CEO purchasing limit is not to exceed $300,000. This could result in
depleting the chemical supplies and lead to closing airfield and roadway surfaces due to unsafe
conditions if replacement chemicals are not obtained when needed. 
Alternative 2)  Commission authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to execute a five (5) year
contract for the purchase of liquid and solid pavement deicers for use at the Airport. The contract
will be structured as a one-year contract with four (4) annual renewal options to be exercised at
the Port's discretion. This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
None 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
On December 15, 2009, the Commission authorized the Chief Executive Officer to exercise
options and otherwise proceed with existing goods and purchased services agreements needing
renewal prior to January 31, 2010, a total of six contracts including a $300,000 contract for snow
and ice removal chemicals.