Sea-Tac Airport becomes first in the U.S. to achieve Salmon-Safe Certification

In a year where the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is projected to have a record number of passengers, the Port of Seattle is taking care of the environment too, becoming the first U.S. airport to achieve Salmon-Safe certification, earned for its environmental practices that protect Puget Sound water quality and salmon habitat.

The designation means that Sea-Tac passed Salmon-Safe's comprehensive third-party evaluation of the airport's land and water management practices, is adopting practices that go above and beyond regulatory requirements, and is committing to further reducing its environmental impact over time. Sea-Tac joins Vancouver International Airport in receiving this award.

"We are proud that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a national leader when it comes to environmental sustainability and it truly is an honor to be the first airport in the country to receive the Salmon-Safe Certification," said Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire. "From our innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions, increasing recycling or treating runoff water, protecting the environment is a pillar of our Century Agenda."

The airport certifications mark Salmon-Safe's growth into industrial properties and large infrastructure projects, expanding from its 15 years of work with farm and urban landowners. Salmon-Safe currently certifies more than 800 urban and rural sites in Oregon Washington and British Columbia, representing 80,000 acres.

That includes many Northwest vineyards as well as Nike World Headquarters, the University of Washington Seattle and Bothell campuses, Washington State Department of Ecology's headquarters campus, Vulcan development projects in Seattle,  and other institutional and corporate sites.

The Salmon-Safe initiative significantly advances habitat restoration and water quality so that conditions improve for salmon to spawn and thrive. In Washington, Salmon-Safe is co-managed by Stewardship Partners.

"We are delighted with the Port of Seattle's leadership in the aviation industry in adopting Salmon-Safe as an environmental management system," said David Burger, Stewardship Partners executive director. "We look forward to working closely with the Port as it implements its certification commitments, and as the airport continues to raise the bar for environmental management within the aviation industry and among other industrial landowners impacting Puget Sound." 

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