Exhibit    mA
Port Commission 122me
MeetingMM
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
PO BOX 47600 0 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 0 360-407-6000
711 for Washington Relay Service 0 Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341

July 12, 2011

Mr. Bill Bryant
Commission President
Port of Seattle Commission
2711 Alaskan Way
Seattle WA, 98121

RE: Ecology support for implementation of the NW Ports Clean Air Strategy

Dear Mr. Bryant:

I am writing to you to express my strong support for the Port of Seattle's comprehensive and effective
efforts to attain the goals of the NW Ports Clean Air Strategy (CAS) and to reduce the impacts of diesel
exhaust on surrounding communities.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has identified diesel exhaust as one of the air
pollutants most harmful to public health in Washington State. Seventy percent of the cancer risk from
airborne pollutants is from diesel exhaust. It makes healthy people more at risk for respiratory disease
and worsens the symptoms of people with health problems such as asthma, heart disease, and lung
disease. More than four million people in Washington live or work close to transportation corridors and
hubs where they are most likely to be exposed to diesel exhaust. Because of the heavy concentration of
diesel engines and human population at and near ports, cleaning up diesel engines at ports is one of
Ecology's top priorities.

As the 2010 CAS Implementation Report indicates, much progress has been made. Ecology has been a
committed partner in these efforts. Ecology staff have worked with port staff to analyze emissions,
focus priorities, develop projects, lend our technical expertise and provide grant funding for clean diesel
projects.

In addition to the staff time and funding that the Port of Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
have devoted to implementing the CAS, Ecology has directly contributed over $2 million toward clean
diesel projects at ports in the last two years. These include:
0  Exhaust retrofits for drayage trucks

0  Exhaust retrots for cargo handling equipment

0  Replacing old engines with new cleaner engines on cargo handling equipment

0  Providing idle reduction technologies for locomotives and cargo handling equipment.

All of these projects reduce toxic particulate emissions and some of these projects save fuel and reduce
green house gasses.


"137?" "

Mr. Bill Bryant
July 12, 2011
Page Two

Ecology is committed to continuing our partnership with the ports in implementing the CAS. Ecology
continues to seek funding for port projects. This week we will be releasing an announcement of the
availability of several million dollars in new funding for clean diesel projects. Port clean diesel projects
will be one of our top priorities for these new funds.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Commission and Port staff for
winning the
Puget Sound Regional Council's Vision 2040 award. This recognition underscores the value of the
excellent work the Port and its partners do to protect the environment.

In closing I would like to thank the Commissioners and Port staff for all their hard work and commitment
to cleaning up the air around ports. There's more work to do and I know we have a devoted and sincere
partner in the Port of Seattle.

Sincerely,
QRCQ
Stuart A. Clark
Air Quality Program Manager


cc:    Sarah Flagg, Port of Seattle
Frank Van Haren, Washington State Dept. of Ecology
Craig KEnworthy, PSCAA
Rick Albright, EPA