Item No. 11c_supp
Meeting Date: July 13, 2021
Ocean Acidification Action Plan
A Commitment to the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification


Commission Briefing
July 13, 2021

Overview
Provide an overview of the
Ocean Acidification (OA) Action
Plan and Case Study
Key elements in the action plan
Summary of Port-wide efforts
on OA
Recommendations
Next steps

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About the Action Plan
Plan summarizes existing Port-wide
initiatives addressing OA
Concludes with voluntary
recommendations to advance OA
work at the Port
First Port to join the International
Alliance to Combat Ocean
Acidification (the Alliance)
Development of an action plan is a
requirement for Alliance
membership
3

OA Goals and Associated Port Initiatives

Reduce atmospheric emissions of CO2
Advance scientific understanding of
Century Agenda                                                                    climate-ocean impacts, locally and
Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy                                              globally
Charting the Course to Zero: Port of Seattle's Maritime Climate and
Habitat Restoration Program Initiatives
Air Action Plan
Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project
Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan
Duwamish River Floating Wetlands
Renewable Natural Gas Agreement
Projects
Use of electric ground support equipment
Options for greener transportation to and from SEA
Ground power for aircrafts
Sustainable aviation fuel (part of Sustainable Airport Master Plan)

4

OA Goals and Associated Port Initiatives

Reduce local pollution that                                 Protect the environment and
exacerbates OA                                        coastal communities
Stormwater initiatives                                           Habitat restoration, such as
the Mitigation Bank,
Cruise Exhaust Gas Cleaning
Alternative Bankline
System Discharge Ban at
Stabilization Program
Berth
Salmon Safe Program
Floating wetlands

5

OA Goals and Associated Port Initiatives

Sustain international support
Expand public awareness
Commitment to join the OA
Duwamish Valley Community                                  Alliance
Benefits Commitment
Presentations at OA Alliance
Green Jobs Program                                            events
Northwest Ports Clean Air
Strategy


6

Existing Port Programs that Support OA Goals
Initiative                                            Goal 1    Goal 2     Goal 3        Goal 4         Goal 5       Goal 6
(Reduce  (Advance  (Reduce      (Protect envr)   (Public       (Int'l support)
CO2)     Science)   local                      awareness)
pollutants)
Century Agenda                                                                                   
Northwest Port Clean Air Strategy                                                                                          
Maritime Climate and Air Action Plan                                                                      
Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan                                                    
Sustainable Aviation Fuels                                                        
SEA Emissions Reduction Initiatives                                                                             
Habitat Restoration Program Initiatives                                                                         
Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project                                                                        
Duwamish River Floating Wetlands Projects                                                                   
Stormwater Initiatives                                                                                        
Exhaust Gas Cleaning Discharge Ban                                                           
Alternative Bankline Stabilization Program                                                       
Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment                                                      
Duwamish River Green Jobs Program                                                                     

7

Voluntary Recommendations
1.   Expand public awareness of OA & Port
actions
2.   Integration of OA into relevant community
engagement efforts
3.   Continue implementation of existing efforts
to combat OA
4.   Continue exploring opportunities for
additional studies on carbon sequestration
and associated OA benefits
5.   Initiate an Elliott Bay kelp restoration limiting
factors analysis
6.   Incorporate OA metrics into future habitat
restoration monitoring plans

8

Next Steps
Submit the OA Action Plan and case study to the OA Alliance for
publication on their website
Public communications aligned with the July 2021 Smith Cove oyster
enhancement event and kelp expedition
Planning for implementation of recommendations
Pursue opportunities to amplify the work the Port and others are
undertaking on OA, for example with the Seattle Aquarium, statelevel
kelp initiatives

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