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The Port’s mission is to create economic vitality for the region. Seattle’s Seaport, which ranks 7th in the nation by container volume, is responsible for 18,000 local jobs and major tax benefits.
Restoring habitat along the working waterfront
The Duwamish River is home to industry and manufacturing and is also important to fishing, recreation and wildlife habitat. The waterway was designated as a Superfund site in 2001. Today, there are a number of projects underway to clean up the waterway while ensuring it continues to serve as the industrial heart of Seattle.
The Port of Seattle is launching its Lower Duwamish River Habitat Restoration Plan, aimed at creating a long-range framework for investments on Port property that lies along the shoreline of the river. The intent of the Port’s public process will be to develop a master plan for the coexistence of natural habitat and the commerce that relies on the waterway for navigation.
Engaging industry and community in the process
The Port is launching a public involvement process to engage all stakeholders including area businesses, community and environmental groups, Native American tribes, and key public agencies. The public process will help formulate an action plan for habitat restoration on Port-owned property along the Lower Duwamish River – from the southern tip of Harbor Island to the turning basin near the south end of Boeing Field.
2008 Public Involvement Timeline
Area projects already in the works
Lower Duwamish River Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study A study of the extent of contamination in the river and the risks to humans and the environment is being conducted by the City of Seattle, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the Boeing Company, collectively the “Lower Duwamish Waterway Group” with oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Dept. of Ecology.
Duwamish Valley Visioning Project
A community planning project to create a long-range vision for the Duwamish River and its surroundings is being led by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Project Contact: (206) 954-0218.
Lower Duwamish River Draft Restoration Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
A process to identify the general types of restoration projects that will be used to compensate for natural resource damage. The project is sponsored by the Lower Duwamish River Natural Resource Trustees with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a lead role. Project Contact: John Kern, NOAA, 206-526-6029.
City of Seattle Shoreline Master Program Update
A program that establishes policies and regulations that govern development and uses on and adjoining Seattle’s shorelines being led by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD). Project Contact: Maggie Glowacki, City of Seattle, 206-386-4036.
Identified as an Early Action Area in the Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study. Two upland removal actions have occurred on the site. A study is currently being performed to identify a final removal action for the sediment, bank upland, and adjacent streets.
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Questions? Contact the Project Manager: Joseph Gellings, AICP Senior Planner, Seaport Division 206-728-3368Seeing Green
In 2007, Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani communicated his vision for the Port of Seattle: to become the cleanest, greenest, most energy efficient port in the nation. The Port’s record as an environmental steward will distinguish Seattle from other ports and give us an edge in the very competitive battle for international commerce.
The Port already has an outstanding environmental record, including switching to alternative fuels like biodiesel in seaport equipment and natural gas in airport vehicles. Seattle is the only port in the world to have two cruise ship berths with shore power available, and the Port helped negotiate a strict agreement with the cruise ship industry to govern release of wastewater in Puget Sound. Last year, Seattle signed an agreement with the ports of Tacoma and Vancouver, B.C., to further reduce emissions from port-related businesses and tenants, including ocean-going vessels, other harbor craft, trains and trucks. We are one of only a couple of major ports in the country that currently are within an "attainment area" — meaning we meet all federal clean-air standards.
The Port of Seattle has always operated in a region that is well-known for its environmental stewardship. This unique strength is our competitive edge.