Environmental Services

What’s good for the environment is good for all of us.

At the Port of Vancouver USA, we measure success in many ways—none more vital than our ability to keep our air, land and water clean. In fact, we’ve made ecological responsibility central to how we do business. We believe that environmental stewardship and economic development can co-exist, and as community citizens, we are committed to preserving natural spaces and managing resources wisely. The following four values outline this commitment:

Integrated Decision Making

We incorporate environmental costs, risks, impacts and benefits into our business choices, operating decisions and facility planning. Environmental responsibility is part of our corporate culture.

Sustainability

Sustaining our natural resources is important. We work hard to protect our air shed, lands and water. In everything we do, we strive to conserve energy, and we maximize the use of sustainable resources in the construction and operation of our facilities and the delivery of our services. The port formalized our sustainability efforts with the “We Can!” project by recognizing past sustainability accomplishments.

Pollution Prevention

The port avoids contamination of property through best management practices and effective safeguarding programs. We continue to efficiently remediate cleanup sites to the benefit of the environment and for future industrial use and job creation. We also work with tenants to emphasize ongoing environmental responsibility.

Compliance

We meet or exceed regulatory requirements in the construction and operation of our facilities and delivery of our services.

Water Quality

The Port of Vancouver USA has numerous industry-leading programs designed to preserve and protect our region’s water quality. Examples vary in size and scope from the Grattix, a small, self-contained stormwater filtration system, to the 23,656-square-foot Stormwater Bio-Retention Facility located at the port’s Terminal 2, thought by many to be the largest of its kind in the world. The port’s innovative efforts strive to balance sustainable industrial activity, which keeps our local economies strong, with responsible waterway stewardship.

Stormwater

The port’s stormwater management program strives to handle stormwater in a manner that demonstrates best management practices. The number and variety of treatment methods utilized at the port are extensive and include stormwater detention ponds, bio-filtration swales, bio-retention systems, hydrodynamic separation units and filter vaults.

The port’s stormwater is permitted under two National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits through the Washington State Department of Ecology. First is the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater permit that covers all stormwater on port property that is served by the port’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). Included in the municipal stormwater permit is the port’s Stormwater Management Program and the port’s Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) policy. The second permit is the Industrial Stormwater General permit that covers approximately 160 acres of marine terminal, including Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and portions of Terminal 4. In addition, qualifying construction projects at the port are permitted under the Construction Stormwater General Permit.

Drinking Water

The port’s water system provides clean drinking water for some industrial tenants, marine vessels, irrigation and fire protection. Additional water necessary for port operations is provided by the city of Vancouver.

The port informs water users about the quality of our drinking water through an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Titled the Drinking Water Quality Report, the document has consistently confirmed that the port’s water system meets or exceeds state and federal health standards. To review the most recent report, please click on the link above. For copies of all previous reports, please visit the Resources and Reports section of the port’s website.

Environmental Management System

Continuing its practice of going above and beyond that which is required, the port voluntarily implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) for its drinking water wellhead area. Following uniform procedures and adhering to ISO 14001 standards (the world’s most recognized and employed framework for environmental management systems), the port’s EMS provides a comprehensive management tool to ensure that the port’s drinking water system meets or exceeds state and federal health standards.

Clean Water Challenge

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the Columbia River clean and preserve it as a vital resource for many years to come, the Port of Vancouver has created the Clean Water Challenge. The challenge incorporates pollution reduction activities into a reward-based acknowledgement system—and we’d like to challenge our tenants to take part in the Clean Water Challenge by taking steps to help reduce contaminant contributions.

Details are shared throughout each calendar year about the program and how tenants can participate. Each year, the tenant who takes the steps with the biggest benefit to water quality will be rewarded the Environmental Tenant of the Year at the next year’s Port Report breakfast.