Resolution Number: 30487

A Resolution relating to persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals (PBTs), stating the City of Seattle's intent to reduce its use of PBTs, and setting forth a work program. (PBTs).
Date introduced/referred: Jul 1, 2002
Date adopted: Jul 1, 2002
Status: Adopted As Amended
Vote: 9-0

Committee: Introduction and Adoption
Sponsor: WILLS
Index Terms: PURCHASING, STATING-POLICY, ADMINISTRATIVE-PROCEDURES, POLLUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL-PROTECTION, WATER-POLLUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL-CLEANUP, ENVIRONMENTAL-HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL-PLANNING
References/Related Documents: Related: Res. 29949
Text
Note to users: {- indicates start of text that has been amended out
-} indicates end of text that has been amended out
{+ indicates start of text that has been amended in
+} indicates end of text that has been amended in

A RESOLUTION relating to persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals
(PBTs), stating the City of Seattle's intent to reduce its use of
PBTs, and setting forth a work program.

WHEREAS, a group of pollutants known as Persistent Bioaccumulative
Toxic chemicals (PBTs) are toxic, persist in the environment and
build up in the food chain, and can pose risks to public health and
the environment; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Ecology is developing a
list of priority PBTs that includes chemicals that Ecology believes
require greater attention because of their persistence,
bioaccumulation and toxicity characteristics; and

WHEREAS, phasing out the use, production and release of PBTs is
important to protecting environmental and public health because once
these chemicals are produced, it is difficult and costly to manage,
destroy or degrade them; and

WHEREAS, respected expert associations and agencies including the
American Public Health Association, the United Nations Environment
Program, the Chicago Medical Society and the International Joint
Commission of the U.S. and Canadian governments, have agreed upon the
benefits of reducing certain PBT pollution in the environment; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Ecology is pursuing a
plan to reduce and eliminate PBTs in the state, including mercury,
dioxin and PCBs; and

WHEREAS, the City has, in recent years, established a strong policy
framework to guide the City's actions and investments toward
environmental stewardship and sustainability, including:

* Ordinance 120121, which created the Office of Sustainability and
Environment (OSE), which established OSE's role in integrating
sustainability and environmental values into all City plans,
policies, and programs, and directed OSE to present its work plan to
the City Council; and

* The 2002 Earth Day Resolution that reaffirmed the City's commitment
to continuous improvement in environmental management by the City, as
a means to reduce the potential human health and environmental risks
associated with City operations; and

* Resolution 29949 that adopted new approaches and policies for
purchasing processes directs the City to balance competing goals
including social, economic, and environmental values; and

* The City's Proclamation on Puget Sound orca whales that identifies
the reduction and elimination of the use of toxic substances- by
governments, corporations and families- as a critical necessity for
protection of the species; and

WHEREAS, potential adverse environmental and health effects from PBTs
may be reduced through purchasing decisions that reduce or eliminate
products that result in the creation or release of PBTs; and
alternative, less toxic options exist for many products, NOW,
THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR
CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1.

The City of Seattle considers persistent pollution prevention a high
priority for action to reduce risk to public and environmental
health, and intends by this resolution to encourage the reduction of
pollution from PBTs.

Section 2.

The City of Seattle will consider the presence of PBTs and the
potential for their release in making purchasing decisions by:

a) Developing and applying criteria that differentiate products
containing PBTs and those that result in the release of PBTs during
production or disposal from those that do not; and

b) Developing an implementation plan with reduction targets by
October 2002 for considering these criteria along with other
environmental, social, and economic factors when purchasing products
in city departments, offices and agencies in order to reduce
pollution from PBTs. Items to be considered in the development of the
implementation plan will be determined by identifying and analyzing
City uses of products containing chemicals identified on the
Department of Ecology PBT priority list or products that result in
the generation of such PBTs during their manufacture, including but
not limited to, paper, penta-treated wood, mercury switches in fleet
vehicles, and PVC building materials and office supplies.
Implementation plan actions will be prioritized based on reduction
opportunity potential, technical feasibility, economic feasibility,
and protection of human health and the environment. As a general
rule, the use of an alternative product should be considered
economically feasible if its cost, including cost of application, is
within 110% of the full costs of the product of concern. In
assessing economic feasibility, long-term public health and
environmental implications should be considered, as well as the
opportunity to stimulate the development of alternatives. By
encouraging the development of new products, the City's purchasing
policies may help encourage market transformation and drive costs
down below the 110% threshold.

Adopted by the City Council the _____ day of _______________, 2002,
and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption
this _____ day of _______________, 2002.
________________________________________
President of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING:
________________________________________
Mayor

Filed by me this _____ day of _______________, 2002.
________________________________________
City Clerk

7/1/02
V 6
ta

Back to the Baykeeper Main Page