PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      3b 
SPECIAL ORDER 
Date of Meeting      June 28, 2016 
DATE:    June 20, 2016 
TO:     Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Elizabeth Leavitt, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability 
Bob Duffner, Senior Manager, Environment and Sustainability 
SUBJECT:  Special Order of Business Salmon-Safe Certification Presentation to
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 
SYNOPSIS 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been granted certification under the industrial
standards developed by Salmon-Safe.  Salmon-Safe is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization and has established the nation's first certification program linking urban
land management practices and the protection of water quality and imperiled native fish
populations. Following a detailed assessment and independent verification  process, 
Salmon-Safe has certified that Airport operations, environmental policies,and programs 
meet its infrastructure standards for sustainable land management that protect water
quality and salmonid populations. This certification is a significant validation of the
Airport's efforts towards environmental sustainability and is a complementary guideline 
to the Airport's Long Range Plan and Century Agenda strategies and objectives. The
Airport is the largest Washington urban site to be reviewed by Salmon-Safe and will be
the first major transportation facility in the United States to receive certification. 
BACKGROUND 
In 2000, Salmon-Safe expanded beyond agricultural land certification to apply the
Salmon-Safe assessment and certification process to land and water management within
the urban realm. This initiative significantly advanced restoration efforts in urbanized
watersheds by developing urban aquatic protection guidelines and a citizen education
campaign throughout the Pacific Northwest. 
In 2014, Salmon-Safe developed certification standards for infrastructure sites (e.g.,
airport, road, rail, water and wastewater, energy). These Infrastructure Certification
Standards are applicable across a variety of urban development landscapes, ranging from
high-level master planning processes to single-site infrastructure projects. While the
standards are designed as a stand-alone program, they can also complement other leading
certification standards (e.g., LEED), by certifying project activities that specifically
address ecological function and the quality of habitat for fish, wildlife, and people. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
June 20, 2016 
Page 2 of 2 

Upon completing the full site assessment which included a facilities review and a review
of key policies and environmental management procedures, the Salmon-Safe team of
independent experts recommended the Airport be certified Salmon-Safe, subject to the
conditions detailed in their assessment report. The evaluation team documented the
Airport's watershed,  stormwater, and landscape-related management policies and
programs and concluded that it met Salmon-Safe's core requirements for certification,
thereby serving globally as an example of environmental innovation.  Specific
environmental practices leading to this certification include the Airport's comprehensive
stormwater management program, habitat restoration within salmon-bearing streams and
water conservation efforts.
Overall the Salmon-Safe standards complement the Airport's Long Range Plan and
Century Agenda strategies and objectives. Key Airport initiatives supporting the
standards and continued certification include the application of Low Impact Development
techniques that manage stormwater in ways that avoid or reduce runoff, and conservation
of potable water through a variety of means including rainwater capture and reuse, the
use of high efficiency fixtures and recycling of water. 
NEXT STEPS 
David Burger, Executive Director of Stewardship Partners, the Seattle based organization
leading Salmon-Safe implementation in Washington, will provide a brief presentation and a
plaque to the Commissioners during the June 28, 2016, Commission meeting. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS SPECIAL ORDER 
None.