News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 20, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Larry Altose, Department of Ecology, 425-649-7009 or Mick Shultz, Port of Seattle, 206-728-3091

Gov. Gary Locke Signs Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Pact

Gov. Gary Locke today signed a memorandum of understanding to guide the environmental practices of cruise ships sailing in Puget Sound.

Joining Locke at the signing ceremony were Linda Hoffman, director of the state Department of Ecology; Paige Miller, commission president of the Port of Seattle; John Okamoto, chief administrative officer of the Port of Seattle; John Hansen, president of the Northwest Cruise Ship Association; Captain Danny Ellis of the U.S. Coast Guard; and Kathy Fletcher, executive director of People for Puget Sound.

“I congratulate the commitment the cruise industry is making to do business in a manner that protects our environment,” Locke said. “This agreement shows that we can embrace economic development without sacrificing environmental protection.”

The state Department of Ecology, the Northwest Cruise Ship Association and the Port of Seattle developed the agreement signed today. The pact will provide new protections for Washington's marine waters while meeting the business needs of the growing cruise industry in this region. The agreement will also provide open access to environmental information about cruise ships operating in Washington.

“The cruise industry has agreed to requirements that are similar to what’s imposed on on-shore facilities,” Ecology Director Hoffman said. “There will be high visibility, which translates into high accountability.”
Port Commission President Miller said, “Right from the beginning of the homeport cruise era in Seattle, the Port of Seattle was very clear that we expected nothing less than the highest environmental standards for ourselves and for the cruise lines. This agreement reflects that commitment. It goes beyond the very tough Alaska regulations which were considered the gold standard of regulations.”
Locke added, “The bottom line is that we gain a lot through this agreement. We will foster an important maritime industry while also raising the level of protection as the ships pass through our treasured and vulnerable marine waters.”

Cruise ships calling at the Port of Seattle brought $124 million in business revenue, $39 million in payroll and $3.8 million in taxes into the regional economy in 2003. Those figures are expected to grow by more than 50 percent in 2004, according to an economic impact study recently released by the Port of Seattle.

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Related Links:
Office of the Governor: http://www.governor.wa.gov;
The memorandum and other documents: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq


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