Celebrating Earth Day 2012:
PNWA member environmental achievements and initiatives
Pacific Northwest navigation, energy and trade stakeholders are leaders in environmental stewardship and we are proud to be part of such an innovative region. In celebration of Earth Day, PNWA would like to recognize the environmental efforts of our members and highlight our 2012 environmental agenda.
PNWA 2012 Environmental Agenda
For 78 years, PNWA has advocated for the development of low cost, fuel efficient and clean infrastructure to support the Northwest environment and economy. To continue our efforts, we have included the following initiatives in our 2012 Policies and Projects:
Navigation. Support maintaining and improving navigation capabilities to meet America's need for environmentally responsible, efficient and affordable transportation. Navigation is the least polluting and most fuel efficient mode of transportation. On the Columbia and Snake Rivers alone, barging keeps 700,000 trucks off the highways running through the sensitive airshed of the Columbia River Gorge. Barges are more fuel efficient than rail and truck combined, with a total of 576 ton-miles to the gallon. Supporting navigation means fewer trucks on the road, less road congestion, greater public safety, and a cleaner environment.
Intermodal Connections. Improve rural and intermodal rail connections. Rural communities need a robust short line rail capability to reduce truck hauls from farm and factory to the market. After navigation, rail is the cleanest way to move cargo.
Hydropower. Maintain hydropower capabilities. Hydropower is a renewable resource. Federal policy should reflect that. Hydropower generates low cost, carbon-free electricity and is imperative to maintaining a clean environment in the Northwest. It would take 3 nuclear, 6 coal-fired, or 14 gas-fired power plants to generate the same peaking capacity provided by the four lower Snake River dams. Hydropower reduces carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to the annual exhaust of 62.2 million passenger cars, or half of the cars currently on U.S. roads.
Northwest Salmon. Support the 2010 salmon BiOp. It is the product of the best available science as well as an unprecedented collaboration among the federal government, Northwest Tribes and the Northwest states. Dramatic increases in fish returns over the last ten years demonstrate that responsible river operations, which include hydropower and navigation, will result in healthy fish runs.
Habitat Restoration. Support funding for BiOp Tribal and State Fish Accords, Section 536 ecosystem restoration, Columbia River Fish Mitigation, the Duwamish-Green River Basin, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership and the cleanup of known toxins and contaminants in the Columbia River.
Toxics Reduction. Support funding to address known toxic hotspots, and work with EPA and stakeholders to craft an updated version of the Columbia River Restoration Act (CRRA).
Regulatory Streamlining. Work with Congress and the federal agencies to expedite the permitting process for economic and environmental projects. Since 2000, we have had great success. Accomplishments include peer review of the Northwestern Division's permitting processes, Corps Headquarters assigning additional staff to the Seattle district, revision of the Sediment Evaluation Framework (SEF), and implementation of WRDA Section 214. PNWA will be re-invigorating our permit streamlining efforts this year, to ensure that we continue to move forward vital environmental and economic projects throughout the region.
Section 214. Work to make Section 214 permanent. Section 214 of WRDA 2000 allows the Corps to accept and expend funds contributed by non-Federal public entities to expedite the processing of permits. By funding additional staff to work on specific permits, existing Corps staffers are able to process permit backlogs, allowing local governments to move forward with many vital ecosystem restoration and other projects. PNWA is the lead organization working to make this funding authority permanent. This authority currently sunsets on December 31, 2016.
PSMP. Support completion of the PSMP by the end of 2012. The Programmatic Sediment Management Plan (PSMP) will study and recommend actions for the reduction and management of sediment entering the Snake River, while maintaining navigation in the Lower Snake River.
Alternative Energy. Support new energy development. Support development of new wind, solar, wave, cellulosic ethanol, and biomass energy projects to meet regional demand. Integrate renewables while maintaining system reliability and meeting customer load requirements.
Air Emissions. PNWA supports federal grant funding for DERA, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. We also fully support funding the EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign grant program at the Congressionally-authorized level of $200M. PNWA fully supports grant funds for all entities that would benefit from reduced air emissions, including those communities that are already in attainment of EPA clean air standards.
PNWA Member Initiatives
Towboat Industry
Bernert, Foss, Shaver and Tidewater are investing millions of dollars to upgrade equipment to ensure a cleaner environment and conservation of natural resources. New tugs are being built and older tugs are being repowered with EPA Tier II compliant clean burn diesel engines, cutting fuel consumption by 32%, oil consumption by 90%, and emissions by up to 50%. In addition to these overall improvements, each barge line is focusing on individual projects as well:
Foss Maritimeis committed to reducing its carbon and emissions footprints and adhering to the principles of sustainability and safety in its operations. Foss built the world's first true hybrid tugboat, a green vessel that has shown in studies to significantly reduce harmful nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and carbon emissions. In 2012, Foss completed the first conversion of a Dolphin-class tug to a hybrid. Along with their partner companies, Foss now holds the U.S. patent on the hybrid propulsion system. The company received the US Coast Guard Admiral Benkert Award gold medal for environmental excellence in 2008 and was granted the prestigious ISO 14001 environmental certification in 2010 - a certification that Foss uses as a blueprint to achieve its "zero trace" corporate goal.
Shaver Transportation has upgraded all upriver tugs this past year, to include larger capacity Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD)'s which improve water quality and increase protection of clean waters. They are also completing their fifth Tier II vessel repower and as of May 1, 2012, will take delivery of a new 5200 hp harbor assist tug with Tier II engines to help keep the Willamette Valley and Columbia River air shed cleaner.
Tidewater Barge Lines is committed to environmental stewardship and providing clean and safe barge transportation services. Tidewater continues to invest in tugboat engine replacement projects and has replaced older diesel engines on four tugboats, with a fifth in progress. These engine repowers result in a significant reduction in emissions of particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Another example of Tidewater's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint is the switch to using Ultra Lower Sulphur Diesel fuel in its tugboat fleet. Using this type of fuel creates significant environmental benefits by reducing particulate matter released by diesel engines and decreasing exhaust emissions from these engines by more than 90 percent.
Ports
Pacific Northwest ports continue to make incredible achievements in the areas of environmental protection, wetland habitat and ecosystem restoration, airshed emission reduction, and water efficiency. The following highlights some of the individual projects they are working on:
Port of Garibaldi. In 2010 the Port of Garibaldi established environmental best practices for their marina, to promote environmentally sensitive practices within their boat basin. These include guidelines for petroleum product disposal and recycling; paint and varnish removal; sewage discharge; fish and other solid waste disposal; and other policies that eliminate or reduce the input of polluting materials into the environment. In 2011, the Port of Garibaldi received the Oregon State Marine Board's "Clean Marina" status for the port's continued improvement to hazard mitigation and pollution prevention.
Port of Coos Bay. The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has established Best Management Practices for its Charleston Marina Complex, working with shipyard and marina tenants, customers and businesses to minimize water quality impacts. In addition, the Port of Coos Bay has achieved "Oregon Clean Marina" status for the Charleston Marina and is pursuing "Oregon Clean Shipyard" status in 2012 for the Charleston Shipyard. In March 2012, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay signed an exclusive negotiating agreement for Project Effectuate, an offshore wind power generation venture. The terms of the agreement provide that Project Effectuate has exclusive rights to the western berth of the Oregon Gateway Terminal that was recently permitted by the Oregon Department of State Lands. The six-month agreement allows the entity and the Port to go through the due diligence process. The Port of Coos Bay is also pursuing opportunities for solar power generation and small-scale wind power generation in the Charleston Marina Complex with the Energy Trust of Oregon. For a long-term perspective, the Port of Coos Bay has begun investigating creation of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund. The Port has proposed a per-rail car fee to be associated with future rail car shipments of bulk carbon-producing commodities. The fund would be managed by the Port and its partners to provide grant money for projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand alternative energy options within the Coos Bay Rail Line corridor.
Port of Longview. In 2011 the Port of Longview undertook a facility wide-clean up aimed at reducing debris and improving stormwater and water quality. The Port's team worked hard to find covered storage solutions for parts and equipment, scrap unused materials and auction off surplus inventory. Last year alone, clean-up efforts yielded over 120 metric tons of scrap metal. Operationally, the Port is now utilizing more environmentally conscious methods of cargo handling, such as a truck wheel wash to minimize cargo tracking and supplemental baghouses for additional air emission control. The Port has also established a Spill Response Team charged as the first responders in the event of an upland or waterside cargo spill.
Port of Newport. In 2009, the Port of Newport was successful in its bid to bring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Operations Center-Pacific to Yaquina Bay. The facility was completed in April 2011. The new administration building is a Silver LEED certified facility. In-water construction also provided for interesting challenges. To mitigate for impacts to eelgrass resulting from pier construction, over three acres from an adjacent upland site were excavated and restored to estuary. Construction of this nearly $30 million facility was completed on time. On May 1, 2011 NOAA took over occupancy of the upland structures and three of the main pier berths, and on July 1, 2011 NOAA occupied the entire facility. Also under construction is redevelopment of the Port's International Terminal. To date, full remediation of all hazardous materials has been accomplished from two WWII concrete cargo ships, SS C.W. Pasley and SS Francois Hennebique, that were sunk in the late 1940's to form bulkheads. Further restoration included the complete removal of the Pasley from Yaquina Bay, which was completed in February 2012. The terminal redevelopment is scheduled to be completed in December of this year, and will be ready to begin the movement of waterborne commerce during the first quarter of 2013.
Port of Portland. The Port of Portland received the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Leadership Award in 2010, which recognized the Port's move to 100 percent certified renewable power and to EPA's list of top 50 renewable power purchasers nationwide. Renewable energy, alternative fuels use, and idle reduction programs are helping the Port meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent and diesel particulate matter by 25 percent below benchmark levels. Also in 2010, the Port earned Climate Registered Status from The Climate Registry for its third-party verified greenhouse gas emissions inventory, while in 2011, it received the State of Oregon Sustainability Award and the national Phoenix Award Grand Prize, which recognized the Port and its partners Alcoa and FedEx Ground for revitalizing and redeveloping a former brownfield back to productive use. In addition, the Port of Portland headquarters building, located at the Portland Airport (PDX), is certified Platinum in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Port of Ridgefield. In summer 2011, the Port of Ridgefield began phasing out the steam cleaning of their Millers Landing property, deeming contamination no longer a threat to a nearby wildlife refuge and local water tables. In August 2002, they began a state of the art Steam Enhanced Remediation (SER) of the property, which was contaminated with creosote and other wood treatment chemicals. The SER has pulled more than twenty-five thousand gallons of the thick black chemical from the ground. Conventional environmental clean-up would have been much less costly, but taken decades to accomplish what the SER did in eight short years.
Port of Seattle. The Port of Seattle has a goal of being the cleanest, greenest, most energy efficient Port in the nation. They are the first cruise port in the country to provide shorepower at two cruise berths, so that vessels can shut their engines off while at berth. The Port of Seattle is also a founding reporter with the Climate Registry, and works proactively to improve water quality in Puget Sound and Elliott Bay. Through their capital development projects, the Port continues to improve the environment, including removing over 70,000 creosote pilings and building almost 4 acres of habitat on the Duwamish River, with a goal of creating another 40 acres of habitat over the next 25 years. The Port's 'Century Agenda' includes environmental goals for the next 25 years, calling for additional restored habitat, increased use of conservation and renewable energy sources and reducing air pollutants and carbon emissions at all Port operations.
Port of Skagit: The Port of Skagit has a long track record of proactive environmental stewardship. They are currently nearing completion of their Taxiway F Cleanup Project, an approximately $3 million cleanup of a former crop dusting site at the Skagit Regional Airport. This cleanup removes soil contaminated with pesticides resulting from former crop dusting operations from wetlands and uplands that had the potential to be transported downstream and ultimately end up in No Name Slough and Padilla Bay. The port has completed the soil removal and replacement, replanted the wetland area, and will be completing the final repaving of the project in early summer. The port also has approximately 477 acres of high functioning, protected wetlands and wetland buffers on Port property, as a result of the Skagit Wetlands and Industrial Negotiations program,. In addition, the Port maintains approximately 20 acres of restored wetlands as a result of their multi-agency wetland mitigation agreement implemented in 2000. The Port fully implements a Stormwater Management Program last year, which includes approximately 1,800 acres of Port-owned land and is intended to protect downstream water quality. In 2010, the Port of Skagit enacted a new Resource Conservation Plan with a goal of reducing energy consumption in port-occupied facilities by 10 percent from 2008 levels within two years. The Port also plays a leading role in the ongoing effort to keep the Swinomish Channel open, thus addressing carbon footprint/greenhouse gas savings by maintaining a shorter route for marine traffic on Puget Sound.
Port of Tacoma. The Port of Tacoma incorporates sustainability practices throughout its operations, and the effort earned its place as a 2011 Green Supply Chain Partner by the Inbound Logistics Magazine. More than 99 percent of the materials during three major deconstruction projects were recycled or reused. The Port concluded negotiations and entered into Agree Orders with the Washington Department of Ecology for remediation at the Former Kaiser site, Arkema Manufacturing Area, and Place of Circling Waters habitat site. The Port completed construction at the Place of Circling Water combined habitat site and Dick Gilmur Public Access Site, which now provides over 30 acres of highly valuable upland and inner-tidal habitat. Port and terminal operator tenants also pioneered low impact development and other innovative technologies to prevent metals pollution from industrial stormwater runoff; the PortMaintenance facilityhas achieved consistent attainment for zinc, copper, turbidity and pHbenchmarksin its Industrial Stormwater General Permit. Port leveraged public grant and private fund of $1.2 million for diesel equipment retrofits at the marine terminals and collaborated with partner Ports to successfully implement the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy that won several environmental awards.
Port of Vancouver, USA. The Port of Vancouver, USA continues major efforts in environmental stewardship and sustainability. In their efforts to promote renewable energy, the port purchased wind energy certificates equivalent to 100 percent of its annual electricity energy consumption in 2011.The port has purchased an average of 60 percent since 2008. The continued efforts to remove trichloroethylene and solvent contaminants from groundwater through the 2009 installation of a pump-and-treat air stripping system has resulted in 3.5 billion gallons of water treated and more than 660 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removed, a decrease in solvent concentrations of 50 percent. The newly created 157 acre Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank began construction on port property in 2011 and released its first habitat credits for wetland mitigation to developers, agencies and other customers. Efforts continue on the port's West Vancouver Freight Access project which will remove a significant chokepoint from the regional rail system and allow full unit trains, which can be more than a mile and a half in length, to be handled within the port. This project is anticipated to reduce congestion on BNSF Railway and Union Pacific mainlines by as much as 40 percent upon completion. The project has also enabled the port to reconfigure and enhance a stormwater settling pond to increase retention time for water treatment and enhance the pond's functions. The port continues many other innovative efforts to incorporate sustainable, low impact development technology on development projects.
Oregon and Washington Clean Marina Programs. The Clean Marina programs in Oregon and Washington are voluntary port initiatives to protect and improve local water quality by promoting the use of environmentally sensitive practices at marinas. If a facility is in compliance with existing environmental regulations and uses a high percentage of the recommended best management practices, it can be certified as an Oregon or Washington Clean Marina. Many PNWA member ports are working to become certified, or have already done so.
Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. To improve air quality in their harbors, the ports of Tacoma, Seattle and Port Metro Vancouver in B.C. have formed a landmark partnership through the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy. In this agreement, they set shared goals for 2010 and 2015, documenting significant progress in reducing diesel emissions and greenhouse gases.
Puget Sound Marine Emissions Inventory. The ports of Tacoma and Seattle, along with partners including the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy are funding the Puget Sound Marine Emissions Inventory. Through this strategic partnership, the ports have replaced and retrofitted more than 100 pieces of cargo-handling equipment and added anti-idling systems in 12 switching locomotives. They are developing and implementing air pollution control strategies for vessels and on the docks. The ports also are modifying equipment to operate on clean propane, electricity, ultra-low-emission fuels, and working with cargo and cruise vessels to reduce air emissions.
Other PNWA-Member Organizations
Columbia River Bar Pilots. The Bar Pilots have made significant efforts to reduce emissions. By utilizing a sophisticated state of the art helicopter and fast cutter pilot transfer system, they are able to save an average vessel 80 minutes of steaming time. They also eliminate the need for excessive vessel maneuvering, including slowing then speeding up, which contributes to additional emissions. On a yearly basis, they save over 17 thousand tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere from arriving and departing vessels.
PNGC Power. PNGC Power, owned by 16 rural electric cooperatives with service territory in seven western states, supports creation of a wave energy pilot project in Reedsport, OR. A wave energy park is currently being developed and it is anticipated to sell electricity commercially with PNGC Power's participation. A demonstration buoy has been fabricated and is anticipated to be launched in the Pacific Ocean near Reedsport in 2011. PNGC Power also provides operational and management expertise at the Coffin Butte Resource Project located north of Corvallis, OR. The project generates 5.66 megawatts of clean, renewable power from landfill gas, a natural by-product of solid waste. Coffin Butte, which began operation in 1995, allows electric cooperatives to offer customers "green power" as a way to support renewable resources. As consumer-owned, not-for-profit utilities accountable to their members, cooperatives have traditionally promoted energy efficiency and demand-side management (DSM) and information about both as a means to keep members' bills low. Now, Northwest cooperatives also see increasing efficiencies on both sides of the meter as key to addressing the challenge of growing demand and rising costs.
McMillen, Inc. McMillen provides full spectrum engineering and construction services that support both estuary and river ecosystem restoration initiatives. Highlights of recent and current work include a restoration design-build project in the San Francisco Bay that reconnects former salt extraction ponds to the bay's coastal marine ecosystem. This will open 130 acres to the tidal flows in addition to providing nesting and foraging areas for native wildlife. Upriver, McMillen recently completed a design-build project to daylight a portion of the Paradise Creek located in Moscow, Idaho, that restored over 1000 feet of channel and adjacent riparian areas. McMillen is also finalizing designs for an ecosystem restoration project in Portland, Oregon, that will restore over 2500 feet of channel to include the establishment of adjacent wetlands in Westmoreland Park.
Washington Wheat Growers. The wheat industry has been expanding their practices to promote environmental sustainability. They have implemented a GPS auto-steer system which is cutting back on fertilizer and pesticide overlap, therefore reducing the total amount of inputs being applied to the land as well as they amount of fuel used. They are active participants in the Washington Department of Ecology's field burning program, and work to be more fuel efficient by using larger trucks to haul grain in fewer trips to elevators or barge facilities. Farmers are also upgrading their equipment to Tier 4 emission control machinery which reduces diesel particulates going into the atmosphere. Their use of stripe rust resistant wheat varieties cuts down on the number of sprays farmers use in years when stripe rust is a problem. The Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic at Washington State University cuts down on pesticide applications by correctly providing identification of diseases and advice on whether chemicals can control them. The amount of soil lost in Eastern Washington has declined significantly from 20 years ago, in large part as a result of conservation tillage which all farmers practice. For farmers who are able to make the transition to direct seed, also known as no-till, the number of passes over a field is reduced dramatically along with fuel use. The practice also almost eliminates erosion, as does the use of incorporating grass waterways and filter strips. In addition, their use of the Conservation Reserve Program has created thousands of acres of wildlife habitat across Eastern Washington.
Weyerhaeuser. Weyerhaeuser is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2020 while reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. They are doing this by generating 72% of their energy from renewable biomass and installing cleaner boilers that generate steam and electrical energy in their mills. Weyerhaeuser has also sequestered 2.6 times more carbon, primarily in wood products, than it emitted last year, reduced air and water emissions, recovered 6.7 million tons of used paper, or 13 percent of the total recycled in the United States, and has obtained independent certification that all of the forests it manages or owns in North America meet the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard or the Canadian Standards Association sustainable forest management standard. Their environmental sustainability report is available online at www.wy.com/environment/sustainability.
We applaud the efforts of our members to develop environmental initiatives that also enhance the economic value they provide their communities. Year after year, PNWA members are making great efforts to invest in a cleaner and greener Pacific Northwest. For additional details regarding PNWA member environmental initiatives, log on to our website, www.pnwa.net. If you would like to add your organization's achievements and efforts to this document, please contact Heather Stebbings at heather.stebbings@pnwa.net or 503-234-8553.
