The Port of Seattle Commission has directed port staff to take action on a series of steps designed to demonstrate the port's role as a leader in environmental stewardship and remediation.

"The commission is committed to a strong and vibrant maritime industrial economy," said Commission President John Creighton. "The maritime industry is instrumental in promoting economic vitality and a diverse base of well-paying jobs in our region."

"In addition to our economic responsibility," Creighton said, "the port must fulfill its environmental responsibility as a public agency and as a good neighbor to the communities the port serves."

The commission directed staff to take six specific steps: report to the commission within 90 days on port environmental programs that support Governor Christine Gregoire's Puget Sound Action Agenda; create and present an action plan on air quality that will include goals and commitments for significant reductions in air emissions; work with parties to the cruise ship wastewater memorandum of understanding to implement an amendment to the memorandum in time for the 2007 cruise season that would prohibit discharge of biosolids within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary; present to the commission an annual review of wastewater handling compliance for every cruise ship homeported at the port; evaluate the feasibility, environmental impact, costs, benefits and funding sources for facilities to handle biosolids and hazardous waste from cruise ships; and organize a briefing within 60 days on the topic of the Duwamish East Waterway superfund site.

"It makes sense for the port to focus on air emissions from maritime and maritime related sources, water quality and habitat for marine life," said Commissioner Bob Edwards. "That's where the operations of the Port, its customers and its tenants have the greatest impact on our quality of life here in the Pacific Northwest."