/ Environmental

Environmental responsibility, shared prosperity

At the Port of Vancouver USA, we know that a healthy environment supports a thriving community and economy. That’s why environmental stewardship is at the core of everything we do. We’re committed to preserving and protecting the air, land and water that surround us, for today and future generations.

From sustainability to compliance and habitat protection, our dedicated environmental team takes a proactive, innovative approach to managing our impact and planning for the future.

/ Solstice Newsletter

Current Edition: 2025 Summer Solstice

Twice a year, we produce an electronic newsletter highlighting some of our environmental stories.

Our

/ Approach

Integrated decision making

We factor environmental costs, benefits, risks and impacts into our business operations, planning and facility development, ensuring long-term, responsible growth.

Sustainability

Through our “We Can!” program, we prioritize the use of sustainable materials and practices across port operations and construction projects.

Pollution prevention

We work hard to prevent contamination through best management practices and strong safeguards, and we continue to remediate legacy cleanup sites with care and efficiency.

Regulatory Compliance

We meet or exceed all environmental regulations in our projects and daily operations because doing the minimum is never enough when it comes to protecting our environment.

Air &

/ Climate

At the Port of Vancouver USA, we’re working to reduce emissions and improve air quality as part of our broader sustainability goals. Our Climate Action Plan guides efforts to cut greenhouse gases and support the region’s clean energy future.

Habitat

/ Management

At the Port of Vancouver USA, we care for the land, air and water around the port which are important habitats for many wildlife species. Through innovative partnerships and responsible planning, we protect and restore vital habitats while supporting regional economic growth.

Water

/ Quality

The Port of Vancouver USA’s innovative efforts strive to balance sustainable industrial activity, which keeps our local economies strong, with responsible waterway stewardship.

/ Grattix

Two talented port employees invented what is basically a rain garden in a box. It’s an innovative system that removes zinc pollution in stormwater from galvanized metal roofs and downspouts on the terminal. Matt Graves and Mary Mattix, both members of the port’s environmental team, call the stormwater treatment system the Grattix (a combination of their last names), but many others in the environmental world are calling it innovative, inexpensive, and effective.

/ Cleanups

The Port of Vancouver USA is committed to environmental stewardship through the cleanup and restoration of historically impacted sites. Working in collaboration with regulatory agencies and community partners, the port takes proactive steps to address contamination, protect public health, and support a cleaner, healthier future.

/ SEPA

The Port of Vancouver USA’s SEPA program ensures environmental impacts are considered in decision-making for port projects and actions, in accordance with Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act. The program promotes transparency and public involvement through early environmental review and document access.

/ Sustainability

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The Port of Vancouver USA is dedicated to the health of the economy, our community and the environment. As a sustainable port, we look at our operations in an all-inclusive manner, enhancing our profitability while operating responsibly within our larger community. We have created a sustainability plan with the goal to meet today’s global economic, environmental and social needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

/ Environmental Inquiries

Please Contact:

Della Graham
Environmental Program Manager
(360) 823-5287
dgraham@portvanusa.com