COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          6i 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting       April 14, 2020 
DATE:     March 23, 2020 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Eileen Francisco, Acting Director, Aviation Facility and Capital Program 
Laurel Dunphy, Director, Airport Operations 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group 
SUBJECT:  Remote Aircraft Deicing (CIP #C801035) 
Amount of this request:              $14,555,000 
Total estimated project cost:         $17,700,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to advertise, award, and execute a
construction contract and authorize construction of the Remote Aircraft Deicing project at the
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Airport); and to enter into a reimbursable agreement with
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for monitoring of critical FAA infrastructure within the
project area during construction. This request is for $14,555,000, of a total estimated project cost
in the amount of $17,700,000. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
This project will mitigate some of the delays caused by on-gate deicing, by constructing the
infrastructure to provide two off-gate deicing positions on Taxiway A. 
Over the past few years, the airport has experienced rapid growth in both passenger and aircraft
operations. The increased aircraft operations have created an aircraft gate deficiency and
resulted in significant departure delays when aircraft on-gate deicing occurs. The on-gate deicing
also requires arriving aircraft to hold for gates on the airfield, further congesting the movement
area and exacerbating delays. Based on input from the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower, aircraft
departures during deicing operations could increase significantly with the addition of the
proposed off-gate deicing positions that will be constructed on Taxiway A. 
The Remote Aircraft Deicing CIP (C801035) is included in the 2020-2024 capital budget and plan
of finance. Following completion of pavement and utility design studies, the project cost estimate
was reduced from $24,300,000 to $17,700,000; a 27 percent budget decrease. The project scope
remained the same and the savings resulted from value engineering and design opportunities. 

Template revised January 10, 2019.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6i_                                 Page 2 of 6 
Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 
This project requires FAA approval for an Airport Layout Plan (ALP) change. A successful Safety
Risk Management Panel was conducted with the FAA for the ALP change and the corresponding
FAA approval letter is expected, no later than May 2020. Asking for Commission authorization
for construction prior to receiving this letter allows taxiway construction to be completed prior
to both the wet weather and the holiday peak travel seasons. Maintaining this schedule will also
allow the Remote Deicing positions to be operational for the 2020/2021 winter season. 
JUSTIFICATION 
Based on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics data, Alaska Airlines had 296 hours and Delta
Airlines had 392 hours of weather delays during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 winter seasons 
at the airport. The significant delays and inconvenience to the traveling public have caused
negative traveling experiences. This project will mitigate some of these delays and support the
strategy of the Port's Century Agenda objective to "Advance this region as a leading tourism
destination and business gateway" by meeting the region's air transportation needs at the airport
for the next 25 years. 
The construction of the two off-gate deicing positions will result in less aircraft holding for gates 
on the airfield, or congesting the movement area, which will increase passenger level of service,
reduce the long-term airline operating cost, and support the long-term strategy of the Port's
Century Agenda objective to "Be the greenest, and most energy efficient port in North America"
by reducing air pollutants and carbon emissions. In addition, less overall deicing fluid waste is
anticipated due to better spray accuracy and the higher efficiency of deicing on Taxiway A,
supporting the King County Waste Water Permit agenda of reducing industrial waste water. 
Due to the rapid growth of aircraft operations, locations in the non-movement area that could
accommodate off-gate deicing are increasingly  being utilized for other purposes such as
hardstand operations, Remain-over-night (RON) parking of passenger aircraft, and cargo
operations. The rapid growth of hardstand operations and competing uses has greatly reduced 
the availability of these hardstands in the non-movement area for deicing operations. 
Projects included in the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects (NTP) and
currently in environmental review may  resolve the existing deicing deficiency by adding
additional gates and new multi-use hardstand positions in the non-movement area for off-gate
deicing. If these projects received required approvals through the environmental review process,
they will take several years to implement. I nterim solutions are needed now to alleviate the
growing delays experienced during deicing operations. 
The project was presented at the Airline Airport Affairs Committee (AAAC) meeting in June 2019
and the Majority-In-Interest ballot was approved in November 2019. 


Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6i_                                 Page 3 of 6 
Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 
Diversity in Contracting 
The Diversity in Contracting Department along with project staff have identified a 10% WMBE
aspirational goal for this project.
DETAILS 
During the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 deicing season, two narrow body deicing positions were
tested in the movement area at the north end of Taxiway A. The test helped mitigate some of
the delays caused by the on-gate deicing without incident. With the addition of two more offgate
deicing positions provided by this project, an Operational Safety Assessment was conducted
with the FAA, Airlines, and Airport Operations, in July 2019, to identify hazards and document
mitigations to ensure safe airfield operations. 
This project will be constructed in 2020 between mid-August and end of November to avoid the
peak travel months and minimize operational impacts. With the addition of the new Taxiway Y,
a Safety Risk Management Panel for the Airport Layout Plan change was conducted with the FAA,
Airlines, Airport Planning and Airport Operations, in February 2020, to identify and examine
hazards and develop controls for effective risk mitigations. The project is in the FAA approval
process for an Airport Layout Plan (ALP) change. An ALP Safety Risk Management Panel was
successfully completed with the FAA and the risk of not receiving the approval letter is deemed
very low. 
Phased closures of sections of Taxiway A and Taxiway B will be needed for construction and a
construction phasing plan has been developed to minimize the impacts from construction to
airfield operations. In addition, a Construction Safety Risk Management Panel was conducted in
February 2020 with the FAA, Airlines, Airport Operations to identify safety hazards during
construction and documented mitigations to ensure safe airfield operations during construction. 
As part of the project, there will be demolition of stormwater drainage pipes and installation of
new industrial waste system pipes adjacent to existing FAA duct banks. An agreement with the
FAA will be utilized  to reimburse the FAA to monitor their critical infrastructure  during
construction, if deemed necessary by the FAA. 
A project labor agreement was evaluated in collaboration with Port of Seattle Labor Relations
and will be used based on the location and complexity of this project and the importance of labor
continuity and stability to minimize the operational impacts during construction. 
Scope of Work 
The main scope items are listed as follows: 
(1)   The construction of cross-over Taxiway Y to alleviate queueing back-ups during deicing
operations on the taxiway 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6i_                                 Page 4 of 6 
Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 
(2)   The construction of asphalt pads along Taxiway A to provide support for Deicing
Vehicles 
(3)   Industrial Waste and Storm Drainage System Improvements 
Schedule 
Activity 
Construction start                             Q3 2020 
In-use date                                    Q4 2020 
Cost Breakdown                                      This Request           Total Project 
Design                                                           $0             $3,145,000 
Construction                                             14,555,000             14,555,000 
Total                                                        $14,555,000             $17,700,000 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1  The Port would not construct any additional off-gate deicing positions on Taxiway
A. 
Cost Implications: $0 
Pros: 
(1)    No additional cost in 2020. 
(2)    No additional operational impact or closure of Taxiway A and B for construction. 
Cons: 
(1)    Continued significant delays and associated airline costs caused by on-gate deicing. 
(2)    More aircraft holding for gates and congesting the movement areas. 
(3)    Negative traveling experiences due to the significant delays and inconvenience to the
traveling public. 
(4)    Delay impacts to other airports and airlines around the nation and world. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2  Provide infrastructure to accommodate off-gate deicing positions on Taxiway A. 
Cost Implications: $17,700,000 
Pros: 
(1)    Mitigate some of the delays caused by on-gate deicing. 
(2)    Increase aircraft departures. 
(3)    Less overall glycol used due to the higher efficiency of deicing on Taxiway A. 
(4)    Reduce  the  long-term  operating  cost  and  support  environmentally  sustainable
development by reducing aircraft-related carbon emissions and noise. 
Cons: 
(1)    Operational impacts during construction. 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6i_                                 Page 5 of 6 
Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 
(2)    Additional project costs in 2020. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary               Capital        Expense           Total 
COST ESTIMATE 
Original estimate                                $24,300,000               $0     $24,300,000 
Current change                                 (6,600,000)               0     (6,600,000) 
Revised estimate                                17,700,000                0      17,700,000 
AUTHORIZATION 
Previous authorizations                           3,145,000                0       3,145,000 
Current request for authorization                14,555,000                0      14,555,000 
Total authorizations, including this request       17,700,000                0      17,700,000 
Remaining amount to be authorized                    $0             $0             $0 
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Remote Aircraft Deicing CIP #C801035 was included in the 2020-2024 capital budget and plan
of finance in amount of $24,300,00. A budget decrease was transferred to the Aeronautical
Reserve CIP (C800753) resulting in no net change in the total Aviation capital budget. Given that
the life of the asset would be six to ten years, the planned funding source will be 2018 revenue
bonds with a short amortization to more closely match the life of the asset (ten years). 
Financial Analysis and Summary 
Project cost for analysis                        $17,700,000 
Business Unit (BU)                            Airfield Movement Area 
Effect on business performance (NOI after    NOI after depreciation will increase due to
depreciation)                                 inclusion of capital (and operating) costs in
airline rate base 
IRR/NPV (if relevant)                           N/A 
CPE Impact                                 $.11 in 2021 
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership) 
The design life for the various pavements will need to meet the minimum FAA design criteria, 20
years. Those assets that are likely to remain in service beyond possible SAMP implementation
would be designed for 40 years or longer. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1)   Presentation slides 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

COMMISSION AGENDA  Action Item No. _6i_                                 Page 6 of 6 
Meeting Date: April 14, 2020 

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
August 13, 2019  The Commission authorized the Executive Director to design and prepare
construction bid documents for the Remote Aircraft Deicing project at the Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport in an amount not to exceed $2,850,000 of a total estimated project
cost of $24,300,000. 
















Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).