Comprehensive Environmental Management
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – The Port of Virginia, Environmental Management System 14001: 2015 (Click here to view award entry)
The Port of Virginia prioritizes incorporation of procedures and technologies that reduce emissions, identify environmental risk, and engage employees and the community while maximizing operational performance. At the cornerstone of our commitment to environmental stewardship is our industryleading Environmental Management System (EMS). Beginning in 2008, the EMS program was recognized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) by meeting all of the requirements of the ISO 14001
standard, making The Port of Virginia the first east coast port to operate under this certification. The Environmental Management System ensures that port colleagues and tenant activities operate, not only safely and efficiently, but also proactively with an informed ability to identify and respond to environmental risks, while improving performance through the effective use of resources.
AWARD OF DISTINCTION – Northwest Seaport Alliance, NWSA Clean Truck Program (Click here to view award entry)
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) Clean Truck Program is one initiative resulting from the groundbreaking Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. Under the original NWPCAS, the ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, BC, collectively set a goal in 2008 of having 2007 or newer engine year trucks exclusively serving the international container terminals by January 2018 as part of the NWPCAS. Upon formation of the NWSA in 2015, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma combined their Clean Truck Programs into one NWSA Clean Truck Program. The Clean Truck Program was originally set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2018, but as the date approached only 53% of trucks were compliant. In early 2018, the NWSA Managing Members voted to extend the deadline through the end of the year. Throughout 2018 efforts ramped up to help truckers prepare for the new 2019 deadline.
AWARD OF MERIT – Port of San Diego, Environmental Innovation through Blue Economy Incubator Program (Click here to view award entry)
In 2016, the Port of San Diego (Port) established a Blue Economy Incubator (BEI) program to assist in the creation, development and scaling of new Blue Economy business ventures in and around San Diego Bay. Through its BEI, the Port is seeking innovative aquaculture and blue tech proposals to inform present and future Port environmental challenges and opportunities; from compliance to remediation. The Port BEI program acts as a launching pad for sustainable aquaculture and blue tech innovative projects by removing barriers to early-stage entrepreneurs and providing key assets and support services focused on pilot project facilitation.
Environmental Enhancement
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Port of Seattle, Innovative Stormwater Operations and Treatment Techniques (Click here to view award entry)
The Port of Seattle established environmental protection as a Century Agenda goal of the organization. The environmental and technical framework for meeting this goal in the Puget Sound region includes some of the most stringent water quality standards in the United States. The Port has approximately 1,000 acres of maritime property draining into the Puget Sound, Elliott Bay and Duwamish Waterway, and plays a significant leadership role in modeling stormwater management best practices for maritime industries. In 2014, the Port created the Marine Stormwater Utility (Utility) to direct resources to the challenges of meeting stringent stormwater permits and maintaining and upgrading the Port’s stormwater infrastructure.
Mitigation
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Port Houston, Bayport Berm: A Living Wall Connects Unlikely Neighbors (Click here to view award entry)
The Port of Houston Authority made a commitment to surrounding communities in 2009 to build a sight and sound berm to preserve the quiet and beauty of the nearby natural areas. The Port had a mission at the time to expand container terminal capacity by building the Bayport Container Terminal, but the Port also had a vision to be a good neighbor and community member. Port Houston’s dialogue with the surrounding community spanned several years as the need for an additional container terminal became apparent. The community wanted to maintain its beautiful view of the bay and wanted something more than just a wall to buffer development. Port Houston worked with the City of Seabrook to turn a simple berm into added space to enjoy coastal views and recreational activities.
AWARD OF DISTINCTION – Port of Seattle, Formation of PORTfolio Line of Business (Click here to view award entry)
In 2016, the Port of Seattle created the PORTfolio line of business to promote habitat restoration using market-based conservation models. The PORTfolio utilizes port expertise in engineering, ecological design, construction, legal services, finance, accounting, survey, GIS, real estate management, landscape maintenance, soil/sediment remediation, community affairs and government relations to create saleable “credits” that can be used for wetland mitigation, floodplain storage compensation, and endangered species conservation. These credits are used in-part to offset the impacts of Port development actions; surplus credits can be sold to other development sponsors to offset the Port’s costs, as well as fund research and development into environmental innovations. The PORTfolio is a creative solution to the typical project-based response to compensatory mitigation and environmental offsets. By leveraging the Port’s organizational bandwidth and competencies, the PORTfolio turns environmental liabilities into profit centers.
AWARD OF MERIT – Port of San Diego, Mitigation of GHG Emissions and Criteria Pollutants while Increasing Operations at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (Click here to view award entry)
The Port of San Diego's Final Environmental Impact Report for the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Redevelopment Plan (TAMT Final EIR) has provided the foundation to mitigate environmental impacts, resulting in 9 pieces of electric cargo handling equipment, implementation of a vessel speed reduction program, funding for an advanced maritime emission control system or bonnet to capture and treat emissions while hoteling, and installation of a renewable energy microgrid in an effort to
reduce emissions and improve air quality. These mitigation measures will reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality in the local communities.
Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Involvement
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Port of San Diego, #ThatsMyBay Pollution Prevention Campaign (Click here to view award entry)
The San Diego Unified Port District launched its new pollution prevention campaign, #ThatsMyBay, in June 2018. #ThatsMyBay takes a new innovative approach to educate the public on pollution prevention in support of PoSD’s mission to champion and promote a healthy San Diego Bay. This social media campaign seeks to increase environmental stewardship among tourists and San Diego residents who visit the San Diego Bay by creating brand identity and using empathic visual imagery to promote pollution prevention. #ThatsMyBay offers a “fresh take” on stormwater pollution, focusing on PoSD’s priority pollutants: trash, metals, and bacteria. The approach takes a serious and dry topic and makes it fun and interesting by combining memorable characters and catchy social media messaging.
AWARD OF DISTINCTION – Maryland Port Administration, Masonville Cove: A Decade of Dedication (Click here to view award entry)
A Decade of Dedication at Masonville Cove by the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration demonstrates an ongoing willingness to go above and beyond a project’s required environmental mitigation, to identify meaningful and successful environmental enhancements and a continued commitment to stakeholder engagement, education and community involvement uniquely focused on diversity and inclusion. Over ten years ago, several non-traditional partners, led by the MDOT MPA, began work to transform Masonville Cove from a contaminated, illegal dumping site in Baltimore, MD into what would later be designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership. The restoration of the debris-laden site and the formation of a strong Masonville Cove partnership sparked education and enhancement projects that continue to provide equitable access, all while educating thousands of underserved students and community members each year, thus creating the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders.
