PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.      6a 
Date of Meeting     April 13, 2010 
DATE:    March 18, 2010 
TO:     Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Bob Duffner, Water Resources Manager, Aviation Environmental 
Elizabeth Leavitt, Director, Aviation Planning and Environmental 
SUBJECT:  Natural Resource Maintenance Interlocal Agreement with the Washington
Conservation Corps
Amount of This Request: $0 
Source of Funds: Annual Operating Budget or Future Individual Project Authorizations 
Estimated Workers Employed: Up to Twelve 

ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request Port Commission authorization for the Port's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute
an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) in a form
substantially as attached in Exhibit A, for natural resource maintenance services totaling
$700,000 over five (5) years in support of wetland mitigation site management at the Seattle
Tacoma International Airport (Airport) and other natural resource management at Port
properties. No funding is associated with this authorization.
SYNOPSIS: 
This ILA provides the Port with the resources necessary to meet the long term natural resource
maintenance requirements of the Airport's wetland mitigation program in compliance with the 
404 Permit and 401 Water Quality Certification for the Master Plan Update Improvement (MPU)
projects as well as natural resource maintenance needs at other Airport and Seaport properties.
Through this agreement, the Port will establish a partnership in which the WCC will provide
natural resource maintenance services and in doing so, will provide valuable environmental work
experience and develop leadership skills in young adults. The WCC is a sub-agency of the
Washington State Department of Ecology and is part of the federal Americorps program. The
Port will provide funding, management and oversight by staff that have natural resource
management experience as well as prior leadership experience in youth corps programs. This
ILA establishes a formal understanding between the WCC and the Port to obtain the WCC

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
March 18, 2010 
Page 2 of 5 

maintenance services. The ILA is designed to specify kinds and amounts of goals and services
to be used and/or exchanged by WCC and the Port to their mutual benefit through a Port project. 
BACKGROUND: 
As mitigation for impacts related to the construction of the Third Runway and other MPU
projects, the Port created, restored and enhanced over 144 acres of wetlands and wetland buffers. 
The Department of Ecology's 401 Certification and the US Army Corps of Engineer's 404
permits require that these wetlands and buffers meet stringent performance standards for plant
survival, density and overall function for a period of 15 years. In order to me et these
requirements, the Port must perform regular plant maintenance including vegetation trimming,
replacement of dead plants, weed management, soil amendment application, protection from
grazing, and maintenance of irrigation systems. Staff anticipates that the majority of the wetland
mitigation site maintenance efforts will occur over the next five years. After this initial period,
plant establishment should progress to the point where the permit standards could be met with a
reduced effort through the remaining compliance period. 
In addition to the Airport MPU wetland mitigation sites, there are other natural resource sites on
Seaport and Aviation properties with maintenance requirements that would be met through this
ILA. The Port has implemented significant environmental restoration, cleanup and habitat 
enhancement projects as part of its capital improvement programs and ongoing operations and
management of Port facilities. Fish and wildlife habitat sites located in Elliott Bay and the
Duwamish Waterway may require assistance to maintain and improve riparian and marsh
vegetation conditions. 
The WCC is a state agency that specializes in the conservation, rehabilitation, and enhancement
of the state's natural and environmental resources while providing educational opportunities and
meaningful work experiences for young adults (ages 18 to 25). WCC was established in 1983
and is a part of the federal AmeriCorps program. Through partnerships with local, state, and
federal agencies, the WCC completes restoration, recreation, and other stewardship projects
throughout the state. 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK: 
This request is for authorization to enter into an ILA with the WCC for Natural Resource
Maintenance Services. Maintenance services may include; selective trimming of desired
vegetation, replacement plantings in areas of high mortality or low vigor, planting in areas of low
density or cover, weed management, soil amendment, installation of rodent guards,
troubleshooting existing irrigation systems, supporting existing monitoring efforts, habitat
stabilization and other natural resource maintenance services. Under this ILA, the WCC would
provide management services, labor and plants.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
March 18, 2010 
Page 3 of 5 

Natural resource maintenance services performed under this agreement will primarily be
performed at Airport wetland mitigation sites. In addition, other natural resource maintenance
services may be performed at Aviation and Seaport properties including those located along
Elliott Bay and the Duwamish Waterway. The ILA will remain effective for a maximum term of
five years and with a maximum value of $700,000.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 
This agreement supports the Port's strategy to "Enhance Public Understanding and Support of
the Port's Role in the Region" by providing a cost effective means to maintain our natural
resources while building a working partnership with another state agency. 
In addition, this agreement supports the Port's strategy to "Exhibit Environmental Stewardship
through our Actions" by facilitating the maintenance of natural resources on Port property while 
providing young adults with hands-on experience and leadership opportunities in the
environmental field. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
Budget/Authorization Summary 
The ILA will have a not-to-exceed dollar threshold. The total costs for services performed under
this ILA will not exceed $700,000. No work is guaranteed to WCC under this agreement. The
Port will authorize work under individual task orders as specific work tasks are required and
funding for that work is authorized by the Commission.
No budget authorization request is associated with this Commission action.
Source of Funds 
The costs associated with services to be performed under this ILA in 2010 at Airport wetland
mitigation sites are in the Commission approved 2010 Aviation Division operating budget.
Costs for 2011 through 2014 Aviation wetland mitigation site maintenance will be included in
subsequent annual Aviation Environmental operating budget requests. Funding for maintenance
services at other natural resource sites will be provided through future individual project or other
department operating budget authorizations. 
ECONOMIC IMPACTS: 
It is estimated that the plant maintenance efforts at Aviation mitigation sites will employ up to 12
young adults for varying periods of time in 2010 and 2011. With future authorized funding, it is
estimated one crew of 6 will be employed at various times in 2012 through 2014 for Aviation

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
March 18, 2010 
Page 4 of 5 

wetland mitigation site maintenance. Maintenance work at other natural resource sites would
provide additional employment opportunities. This work will provide these individuals hands-on
experience in environmental site management and will provide opportunities to develop
leadership skills 
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS: 
A robust plant maintenance effort over the next five years is necessary to ensure the valuable
natural resources created and enhanced at the Aviation wetland mitigation sites will survive and
meet the ecological functions they were designed for. Recent agency reviews of wetland
mitigation sites in the Northwest found a high degree of site failure partially due to inadequate
maintenance during the initial establishment period. This ILA will provide an effective means to
ensure Port environmental obligations are met and the mitigation sites we have created provide a
sustained ecological benefit to our region. 
In addition, this partnership with the WCC will provide valuable work experience to young
adults in our region. 
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE SUMMARY: 
This ILA will provide a financially responsible way to ensure the Port meets the permit
requirements for construction of the Third Runway and other MPU projects while providing
benefits to the local community. By aggressively maintaining our wetland mitigation sites over
the next five years, we will ensure the sites succeed and avoid costly redesign and
reestablishment if they were to fail. 
PROJECT SCHEDULE: 
Approximately sixty percent of the maintenance efforts at Aviation wetland mitigation sites are
scheduled to be completed in late 2010 and early 2011. Scope and magnitude of the remaining
maintenance work will be determined on plant development and permitting agency review. 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED/RECOMMENDED ACTION: 
1)  Do nothing: This alternative would result in the failure of the Aviation wetland mitigation
sites and violation of the Port's 401 Certification and 404 Permit for construction of the
Third Runway and other MPU projects. This is not the preferred alternative. 
2)  Issue a competed purchased service contract to a landscape management firm. This option
would not allow the Port to form a partnership with the WCC and engage in a program that
supports the development of young adults through natural resource management projects.
This is not the preferred alternative.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
March 18, 2010 
Page 5 of 5 

3)  Execute an ILA with the WCC as described in this memorandum. This option provides an
effective means to maintain Port wetland and other natural resource sites through a young
adult development program with a partnering state agency. This is the preferred alternative. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTION: 
On November 23, 2009, the Commission authorized the Aviation Division operating expense
budget for 2010 which contained $360,000 for wetland plant maintenance. It is estimated that
between $150,000 and $200,000 of these authorized funds will be spent on task order issued
under this ILA in 2010. The ILA would also be applicable to future annual budgets and
individual project authorizations. 

DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
Exhibit A  ILA between the Port and the WCC