Item No.: ___6e_Motion_________ 
Date of Meeting: December 7, 2010 
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION 
MOTION IN SUPPORT OF 
THE FEDERAL CLEAN PORTS ACT OF 2010 
DECEMBER 7, 2010 
Statement in Support of Motion 
The Port of Seattle (the "Port") is a major international trade gateway that generates jobs and
economic vitality for Martin Luther King, Jr. County, Washington State and the entire nation. Expanding
trade through the Port will contribute to needed regional economic growth. The Seattle Port Commission
(the "Commission") has endorsed the goal of the Port becoming "the greenest, cleanest, most energy
efficient port in North America," and in line with that goal, the Commission is committed to ensuring the
port-related economic activities and growth is aligned with our responsibilities to the regional
environment and to local public health. 
The Port has become a national leader in promoting sustainable business models in airport and
seaport-related industries. The Commission unanimously adopted the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy
(the "Clean Air Strategy") on January 22, 2008, which together with the ports of Tacoma and Vancouver,
B.C. sets goals collaboratively with our respective tenants and stakeholders for increasing emissions
generated by seaport-related activities, improving air quality and addressing public health issues 
impacting both port workers and residents of communities around seaport operations. 
Pursuant to the Clean Air Strategy, the Port has committed to decreasing emissions from the port
drayage truck industry. Air quality and public health, particularly in immediate port-adjacent
communities, have historically suffered due to old and poorly maintained diesel trucks hauling
containerized cargo to and from Port terminals. 
The Clean Air Strategy sets (i) the near-term goal of reaching the equivalent particulate matter
("PM") emissions level of 1994 or newer heavy-duty truck engine model year harbor-wide by the end of
2010, and (ii) the medium-term goal of reaching the equivalent PM emissions level of 2007 or newer
heavy-duty truck engine model year harbor-wide by the end of 2015. While the Port has seen significant
improvement in air quality pursuant to its current Clean Trucks Program operated in collaboration with
the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Cascade Sierra Solutions, the Commission believes that it is
important that the Port have the flexibility to adopt additional measures as needed to address ongoing air
quality and public health issues. 
In the face of ongoing litigation in the case of American Trucking Association v. the City of Los
Angeles, et.al., there remains substantial legal uncertainty over the ability of local port authorities to
establish policies that address truck emissions. The Commission believes that clarity in the federal law
surrounding the Port's authority over drayage trucking would facilitate planning and implementation of
truck-related environmental programs and would give the Port certainty that it would not face potentially
lengthy and expensive litigation over the details of its current, or any future, clean truck plan. The
Commission further believes that the Clean Ports Act of 2010 would clarify the Port's ability to adopt
policies affecting port trucks that address environmental pollution, traffic congestion, highway safety and
the efficient utilization of seaport facilities.

Pursuant Section 8 the Commission Working Rules and Operating Procedures
(incorporated by reference into Article 2 of the Commission Bylaws), the Commission has the
responsibility to establish Port positions on significant governmental legislation. 

Motion 
The Commission calls on the United States Congress to pass H.R. 5967, the Clean Ports Act of
2010.