Item No. 8c_Policy_Directive 
Meeting Date: January 28, 2020 

1                   EXHIBIT A: SUSTAINABLE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK POLICY DIRECTIVE 
2                                          (as amended November 19, 2019) 
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 howmuch 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 project team 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, including potential alternatives that were analyzed in the
59    Sustainable Design Approach, that are expected to advance the port's sustainability goals as
60    appropriate for that project. 
61 
62    "Sustainable Project Assessment and  Review Collaboration"  (SPARC) refers to a group of
63    internal and external experts as appropriate, determined by the port as having professional
64    expertise related to the sustainability opportunities relevant to a given port capital project or
65    key operational decision.
66 
67    "Key operational decisions" are decisions about aviation and non-aviationoperations that are
68    identified by the Executive Director, Senior Director of the Environment and Sustainability
69    Center of Expertise and/or the director of the affected business unit as in need of review,
70    because the decisions have energy use implications, GHG reduction opportunities, or other
71    potential sustainability or societal impacts. 
72 
73    "Port-wide Sustainability Goals" are identified in Exhibit A. 
74 
75    SECTION 3.  Scope and Applicability. 
76 
77    This policy directive establishes guidance on integrating sustainability into all capital projects
78    and key operational decisions across the port, in an efficient and effective manner. For capital
79    projects and key operational decisions that meet the threshold for commission action identified
80    in the Delegation of Responsibility and Authority, all capital project teams and operational staff
81    shall integrate sustainable approaches into planning, design, construction, procurement, and
82    other operations consistent with this policy. Leasing shall be considered part of the scope of
83    this policy per the outcomes of Section 6(G). 
84 
85    This policy directive ensures that the port will implement an efficient and effective process for
86    developing and implementing sustainable designs for capital projects; creates a responsibility to
87    identify key operational decisions that would benefit from a sustainability review; and creates a

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88    process for reviewing and tracking sustainability outcomes from projects for the commission
89    and public. 
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. 
106 
107    To integrate the framework into capital development design and construction processes and
108    key operational decisions, the port shall: 
109 
110            A.  Develop and implement a tiered approach that focuses port resources on capital
111    projects that have the greatest opportunities to meet the commission's directive in the
112    framework: 
113 
114               (1) Tier 1: Smaller, less complex, projects that would follow port standards and
115                   specifications.
116 
117               (2) Tier 2: Medium-sized, or more complex, projects that have opportunities for
118                   sustainability benefit would be subject to targeted sustainability analyses and
119                   strategies. Tier 2 projects may receive a cost per ton of carbon calculation. 
120 
121               (3) Tier 3: Large, or the most complex, projects with significant opportunities that
122                   may require a sustainability certification along with other targeted sustainability
123                   analyses and strategies, as applicable. Tier 3 projects will receive a cost per ton
124                   of carbon reduction analysis. 
125 
126            B.  Establish a team of project-specific experts (referred to as the Sustainable Project 
127    Assessment and Review Collaboration or SPARC) to le verage port expertise and knowledge of 
128    existing and emerging sustainability practices for capital projects and key operational decisions 
129    to: 
130 

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131               (1) Identify, review, brainstorm, and recommend sustainability concepts and ideas 
132                   for  project  and  operational  teams  to  consider  and  evaluate  during  the
133                   development and design stage of port projects. 
134 
135               (2) Encourage project and operational teams to evaluate and consider innovative 
136                   strategies to reduce emissions and energy use beyond traditional approaches. 
137 
138               (3) Select and apply the relevant Sustainable Evaluation  Framework criteria to
139                   highlight tradeoffs and benefits during development of the Sustainable Design 
140                   Approach and review of key operational decisions. 
141 
142            C.  SPARC recommendations shall be documented in a Sustainable Design Approach for
143    each capital project and presented to commission along with the request for authorization for
144    design funds. 
145 
146               (1) The Sustainable Design Approach shall include a recommendation as to whether
147                   a project should pursue an applicable third-party sustainability certification.
148 
149               (2) Capital project teams shall evaluate and quantify the sustainability costs and 
150                   benefits of the Sustainable Design Approaches as part of the design process. 
151 
152            D.  Capital project teams shall work with the SPARC to develop and recommend a 
153    Sustainable Design Strategy that includes alternatives that were analyzed in the Sustainable
154    Design Approach. The Sustainable Design Strategy shall be included in the final construction
155    authorization for each project. 
156 
157            E.  The Senior Director, Engineering, Environment, and Sustainability shall be consulted
158    regarding any changes to the Sustainable Design Strategy that occur after  commission
159    authorization. The Senior Director shall brief the Energy and Sustainability Committee on those
160    changes. 
161 
162            F.  Recognize  project  teams  that  meet  or  surpass  their  project-specific  goals  to
163    encourage innovation and environmental sustainability achievements. 
164 
165    SECTION 6.  Program Evaluation. 
166 
167            A.  Port staff shall prepare and deliver to the commission an Annual Sustainable
168    Evaluation Framework Progress Report by June 30 of each year that includes progress and
169    recommendations to achieve the policy outlined in Section 5. The progress report shall include: 
170 
171               (1) The Sustainability Scorecard to provide context for progress on reaching GHG
172                   reduction goals. 
173 

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174               (2) A  summary  of  sustainability  elements  that  have  been  identified  in  the
175                   Sustainable Design Strategies for each project. 
176 
177               (3) Description of the implementation of the framework as part of each capital
178                   project  and key operational decisions, including those strategies that were
179                   considered but ultimately not included in the project. 
180 
181               (4) The estimated GHG emission reductions related to each project and the cost per
182                   metric ton of GHG reduced for those projects, where such a calculation was
183                   used. 
184 
185               (5) Other sustainability benefits associated with projects as appropriate. 
186 
187            B.  By  March  31,  2020,  present  a  Sustainable  Evaluation  Framework  Guidance
188    Document to the commission that includes implementation guidelines for the policies listed in
189    Section 5 of this policy. 
190 
191            C.  By June 30, 2021, present findings and recommendations to the Energy and
192    Sustainability Committee that outlines how key operational decisions were identified and how
193    the decisions were delivered to commission and the public. Incorporate these findings into the
194    final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 
195 
196            D.  By June 30, 2021, present to the commission recommendations for incorporating
197    equity and resiliency considerations into the Sustainable Evaluation Framework or the final
198    Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 
199 
200            E.  By December 30, 2021, present to the commission recommendations for updating
201    and  revising  port  construction  specifications  and  standards  to  reflect  advancements  in
202    sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and sustainable design approaches. Recommendations
203    will include consideration of total cost of ownership and sustainability costs and benefits. 
204 
205            F.  Within 90 days of implementation of this policy, port staff shall deliver a timeline
206    and scope of work for the development and pilot of incentives to reduce embodied carbon in
207    construction materials through a partnership with external partners. 
208 
209            G.  By  December  30,  2021,  present  to  the  commission  recommendations  for
210    incorporating the development of long-term lease agreements into the Sustainable Evaluation
211    Framework and/or the final Sustainable Evaluation Framework Guidance Document. 




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212                                     (POLICY DIRECTIVE) EXHIBIT A 
213                          Century Agenda and Current Port Policies Summary 
214 
215    A summary of Port of Seattle sustainability goals and objectives as described in the port's
216    Century Agenda, Environmental Scorecard, and Ground Transportation Principles and Goals
217    Policy Directive, and a commission briefing is provided for reference below: 
218 
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 
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 
219 

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. 
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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