Container Terminal AKART Study

Client: Pacific Merchant Shipping Association

Facilitation of a Marine Terminal Operator Group to identify BMPs and treatment technology for stormwater management at container terminals. Development of a guidance document that became part of an ISGP manual for marine cargo facilities.

Overview of Floyd|Snider Contributions

Stormwater BMP effectiveness evaluation at container terminals

Data evaluation from multiple marine terminal operators

Group facilitation

Regulatory strategy and negotiations support

Project Summary

Floyd|Snider was engaged to work with the MTO Group to prepare a study defining what BMPs, including treatment technologies, should be considered “all known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment” (AKART) for stormwater management at container terminals.

Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) formed a Marine Terminal Operator (MTO) Group to convene MTO’s operating major container terminals in Seattle and Tacoma, with the purpose of documenting experience with stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Floyd|Snider was engaged to work with the MTO Group to prepare a study defining what BMPs, including treatment technologies, should be considered “all known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment” (AKART) for stormwater management at container terminals.

Our Approach

Floyd|Snider compiled information from multiple MTOs for the study.

The goal of the work was to support PMSA and the Washington Public Ports Association to define consistent protocol for Washington ports and their tenants to use to achieve greater improvements in stormwater discharge quality and compliance with Ecology’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) while providing greater predictability for terminal operators and more economic certainty regarding implementation costs. Floyd|Snider then developed a stormwater BMP guidance document as a resource for terminal operators. This will support consistent implementation of aggressive operational and structural source control BMPs and stormwater treatment BMPs; which will both improve water quality and support economic viability by improving predictability of the stormwater regulatory environment for marine terminals. This work became part of an ISGP Implementation Manual for Washington Marine Cargo Facilities.

Project Milestones:

2013. MTO Group formed
2014. Washington Public Ports Association Marine Terminal AKART and ISGP Guidance Manual issued

Floyd|Snider compiled information from multiple MTOs for the study. The goal of the work was to support PMSA and the Washington Public Ports Association to define consistent protocol for Washington ports and their tenants to use to achieve greater improvements in stormwater discharge quality and compliance with Ecology’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) while providing greater predictability for terminal operators and more economic certainty regarding implementation costs. Floyd|Snider then developed a stormwater BMP guidance document as a resource for terminal operators. This will support consistent implementation of aggressive operational and structural source control BMPs and stormwater treatment BMPs; which will both improve water quality and support economic viability by improving predictability of the stormwater regulatory environment for marine terminals. This work became part of an ISGP Implementation Manual for Washington Marine Cargo Facilities.

Project Milestones:

2013. MTO Group formed
2014. Washington Public Ports Association Marine Terminal AKART and ISGP Guidance Manual issued

Project Team

Floyd|Snider

Floyd|Snider provides an impressive mix of key skillsets to navigate through complex problems. They professionally integrate technically sound approaches within regulatory and political realities to produce effective solutions. They know how to leverage multiple stakeholder input to achieve best outcomes while staying on budget and schedule.

Captain Mike Moore, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association

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