8b Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive

1

2                   EXHIBIT A: SUSTAINABLE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK POLICY DIRECTIVE 
3 
4     SECTION 1.  Purpose. 
5 
6     The primary purpose of this policy is to require the application of the Sustainable Evaluation
7     Framework to all capital project decisions and selected key operational decisions to advance
8     the Port's sustainability goals and objectives. The policy will advance the Port's Century Agenda
9     strategy  to  be  the  greenest,  and  most  energy  efficient  port  in  North  America  and  the
10    corresponding objectives including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by conserving energy
11    and/or using renewable energy.
12 
13    The Port finds that to advance these goals and objectives, it is necessary to establish a Port-
14    wide process that reduces the environmental and societal impacts associated with capital
15    projects and key operational decisions in a manner that is efficient and effective, uses Port
16    resources wisely, and provides transparency for the Commission, the public and Port staff. 
17 
18    SECTION 2.  Definitions. 
19 
20    When used in this policy directive, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
21    given below unless the context in which they are included clearly indicates otherwise: 
22 
23    "SustainableEvaluation Framework" refers to a set of criteria recommended and adopted by
24    the Commission (Motion 2017-14, adopted December 19, 2017) to assist the Port in achieving
25    its sustainability goals.  The criteria are in addition to other project evaluation criteria such as 
26    return on investment or total cost of ownership. 
27 
28    The Framework criteria are: 
29         Reduce GHG emissions 
30         Protect health and the environment 
31         Increase resilience 
32         Support local economic development 
33         Advance innovation 
34         Leverage and develop partnerships 
35         Advance equity 
36 
37    "Embodied carbon" is the carbon footprint of a material.It considers how much greenhouse
38    gas (GHGs) is released throughout the supply chain and is often measured from cradle to
39    (factory) gate, or cradle to site (of use). 
40 
41    "Scope 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions" refers to the GHG Protocol Corporate
42    Standard that classifies a company's GHG emissions into three 'scopes.' Scope 1 emissions are
43    direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions
44    from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not

45    included in Scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both
46    upstream and downstream emissions. 
47 
48    "Sustainable DesignApproach" is the recommended categories and sustainability concepts,
49    approaches, and ideas that staff expect to explore and evaluate for a given capital project. The
50    Approach is developed by the Sustainable Project Assessment and Review Collaboration (SPARC,
51    described below) during the planning phases of a given project and will be used by the
52    respective project design teams to inform their assessments and analyses to focus on those 
53    areas that may provide significant sustainability benefits for that project. 
54 
55    "Sustainable Design Strategy" is the recommended course of action that a projectteam is
56    expected to implement in constructing its proposed project.  The Sustainable Design Strategy
57    includes the results of the analyses conducted during the design phase of the project and
58    recommended suite of actions 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-aviationoperations 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 effected 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    process for reviewing and tracking sustainability outcomes from projects for the Commission
88    and public. 

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89 
90 
91    SECTION 4.  Responsibilities. 
92 
93    The Port's  Executive Director or a delegate shall ensure  the policy is implemented  and
94    adequately funded, and that the Sustainable Evaluation Framework is integrated into capital
95    projects and key operational decisions across the Port.
96 
97    The Executive Director shall also ensure that decisions associated with the application of the
98    Sustainable Evaluation Framework are transparently documented and publicly exhibited so
99    that the Port of Seattle Commission can review, in public, alternatives and trade-offs that
100    describe how a project can meet its GHG and sustainability and other societal goals. 
101 
102    The Executive Director shall also ensure that the program evaluation meets the purpose and
103    timeliness identified in Section 6 of this policy. 
104 
105    SECTION  5.  Policy.  To  integrate  the  Framework  into  capital  development  design  and
106    construction processes and key operational decisions, the Port shall: 
107         A. Develop and implement a tiered approach that focuses Port resources on 
108            capital projects that have the greatest opportunities to meet the Commission's directive
109            in the Framework: 
110               (1)  Tier 1: Smaller, less complex, projects that would follow Port standards and 
111                   specifications.
112               (2)  Tier 2: Medium-sized, or more complex, projects that have opportunities for 
113                    sustainability benefit would be subject to targeted sustainability analyses and
114                   strategies. Tier 2 projects may receive a cost per ton of carbon calculation. 
115               (3)  Tier 3: Large, or the most complex, projects with significant opportunities
116                   that may require a sustainability certification along with other targeted
117                   sustainability analyses and strategies, as applicable. Tier 3 projects will receive a
118                   cost per ton of carbon reduction analysis. 
119 
120         B. Establish a team of project-specific experts (referred to as the Sustainable Project
121            Assessment and Review Collaboration or SPARC) to leverage Port expertise and
122            knowledge of existing and emerging sustainability practices for capital projects and key
123            operational decisions to: 
124               (1)  Identify, review, brainstorm, and recommend sustainability concepts and ideas 
125                   for project and operational teams to consider and evaluate during the
126                   development and design stage of Port projects. 
127               (2)  Encourage  project and operational teams to evaluate and consider innovative 
128                   strategies to reduce emissions and energy use beyond traditional approaches. 
129               (3)  Select and apply the relevant Sustainable Evaluation Framework criteria to
130                   highlight tradeoffs and benefits during development of the Sustainable Design 
131                   Approach and review of key operational decisions. 
132 

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133         C. SPARC recommendations shall be documented in a Sustainable Design 
134            Approach for each capital project and presented to Commission along with the request
135            for authorization for design funds. 
136               (1) The Sustainable Design Approach shall include a recommendation as to whether a
137                  project should pursue an applicable third-party sustainability certification.
138               (2) Capital project teams shall evaluate and quantify the sustainability costs and 
139                   benefits of the Sustainable Design Approaches as part of the design process. 
140 
141         D. Capital project teams shall work with the SPARC to develop and recommend
142           a Sustainable Design Strategy that shall be included in the final construction 
143           authorization for each project. 
144 
145         E. The Senior Director, Engineering, Environment, and Sustainability shall be consulted
146            regarding any changes to the Sustainable Design Strategy that occur after Commission
147            authorization. The Senior Director shall brief the Energy and Sustainability Committee on
148            those changes. 
149 
150         F. Recognize project teams that meet or surpass their project-specific goals to encourage 
151            innovation and environmental sustainability achievements. 
152 
153    SECTION 6.  Program Evaluation. 
154 
155        A.  Port staff shall prepare and deliver to the Commission an Annual Sustainable Evaluation 
156            Framework Progress Report by June 30th of each year that includes progress and
157            recommendations to achieve the policy outlined in Section 5. The Progress Report shall
158            include: 
159                (1) The Sustainability Scorecard to provide context for progress on reaching GHG
160                   reduction goals. 
161                (2) A  summary  of  sustainability  elements  that  have  been  identified  in  the
162                   Sustainable Design Strategies for each project. 
163                (3) Description of the implementation of the framework as part of each capital
164                   project  and key operational decisions, including those strategies that were
165                   considered but ultimately not included in the project. 
166                (4) The estimated GHG emission reductions related to each project and the cost per
167                   metric ton of GHG reduced for those projects, where such a calculation was
168                   used. 
169                (5) Other sustainability benefits associated with projects as appropriate. 
170 
171        B.  By March 31, 2020, present a Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document to
172            the Commission that includes implementation guidelines for the policies listed in
173            SECTION 5 of this policy. 
174 
175        C.  By  June  30,  2021,  present  findings  and  recommendations  to  the  Energy  and
176            Sustainability Committee that outlines how key operational decisions were identified 

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177            and how the decisions were delivered to Commission and the public. Incorporate these
178            findings into the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 
179 
180        D.  By June 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for incorporating equity
181            and resiliency considerations into the Sustainable Evaluation Framework or the final
182            Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 
183 
184        E.  By December 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for updating and
185            revising Port construction specifications and standards to reflect advancements in
186            sustainable  materials,  energy  efficiency,  and  sustainable  design  approaches.
187            Recommendations  will  include  consideration  of  total  cost  of  ownership  and
188            sustainability costs and benefits. 
189 
190        F.  Within 90 days of implementation of this policy, Port staff shall deliver a timeline and
191            scope of work for the development and pilot of incentives to reduce embodied carbon
192            in construction materials through a partnership with external partners. 
193 
194        G.  By December 30, 2021, present to the Commission recommendations for incorporating
195            the  development  of  long-term  lease  agreements  into  the  Sustainable  Evaluation
196            Framework and/or the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 
197 
198                                                    EXHIBIT A 
199                              Century Agenda and Current Port Policies Summary 
200 
201    A summary of Port of Seattle sustainability goals and objectives as described in the Port's
202    Century Agenda, Environmental Scorecard, and Ground Transportation Principles and Goals
203    Policy Directive, and a Commission briefing is provided for reference below: 
204 
Carbon (GHG)           Reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions: 
Reduction1                   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 
Energy2                  Meet all increased energy needs with conservation and/or
renewables. 
Airport Ground         Reduce curbside private vehicle pickup/drop off from 41 percent to
Transportation Policy    30 percent of mode share by 2030.
Directive3 
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. 


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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 Pollution4              Reduce particulate matter pollution by 50% from 2005 levels. 
Water Quality5           Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater leaving Portowned
or operated facilities. 
Waste Reduction6       Solid waste: 60% diverted from landfills 
Construction waste: 90% diverted from landfills 
Habitat/Land           Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the
Restoration7             Green/Duwamish watershed and Elliott Bay. 
Water Conservation8     Reduce projected future water consumption by 12% by 2030 
Northwest Ports Clean   Guides clean air goals for Northwest Ports.
Air Strategy 
205 
206 
207                                          Revision History 









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. 


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