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The Podcast!
Subscribe to the only podcast devoted to helping people under the flight path everywhere. It’s definitely not just about noise!Most Recent: Ep #27 Emergency! SAMP/SEPA DEIS (2/3)
The Issues
The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is the blueprint for increasing flight capacity by one third in the next ten years. It will have the same community impact as the Third Runway. In fact, it is happening now. How this is possible, and what it means for us.continue...
A two minute presentation on how the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) will increase flight operations at Sea-Tac Airport as much as a new runway. Without a new runway.continue...
Does your home have a Port Package of noise mitigation windows and insulation? Having problems with your windows? Mold? You're not alone. Help us help you.continue... -
The SAMP SEPA EIS Public Comment Period is open now from May 22 – July 21, 2026. Learn what is coming and what you can do to help reduce the noise, the pollution, and obtain the compensation we’ve deserved for decades.Top Story
Ep #27 Emergency! SAMP/SEPA DEIS (2/3)
May 25, 2026
On May 22, 2026 the Sustainable Airport Master Plan DEIS was released and a sixty day public comment period began.
Our second in a series of 3 minute explainers on how you can help your community by being patient and providing high quality comments. It is not click bait to say: It's easier than you think. It's not what you think.
In our last one Ep #26 (1/3), we noticed that the initial set of documents uploaded by the Port had at least two flaws. Since no one else seemed to notice we immediately questioned how seriously anyone was taking the ticking clock of '60 days!'
The 2025 NEPA process was an Environmental Assessment (EA) -- a much lighter review than an EIS. The FAA is required to choose an EA (to speed permitting) if the airport owner demonstrate that the project(s) likely pose no major mitigation challenges. That 2025 final document was prox. 3,650 pages.
The Port of Seattle heard this critique loud and clear. In fact, it complained loudly over the Trump Executive Orders stripping various categories from consideration. It promised a much more thorough, complete State EIS process. But being much more sotto voce over the fact that with this process they are the approver. They (literally) sign off on their own environmental review.
Erratum: The video says that the SAMP EIS is prox. 3,700 pages. The total page count is closer to 3,650 -- almost identical to the Final NEPA EA. Nevertheless, we regret the error.
It may be coincidental that the two page counts are almost identical, but we are skeptical. An EIS for any large construction project is typically many hundreds of pages. As one example, the Third Runway EIS was almost twice as long.
To learn how you can make a difference:
Recent Stories
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Ep #26 Emergency! SAMP/SEPA DEIS (1/3)
**Discover why environmental progress stalled for airport communities while cars got cleaner** Ever wonder why your car's emissions have dramatically improved over decades, but aviation seems stuck in the past? In this eye-opening episode of The Airport Communities Podcast, we explore the fascinating tale of two environmental paths that diverged after 1970. While Washington Senator Scoop Jackson spearheaded NEPA—one of the largest expansions of environmental policy in American history—and California secured game-changing carve-outs in the Clean Air Act that led to massive air quality improvements, aviation somehow got left behind. Despite Boeing being headquartered in Washington, aviation environmental standards never caught up. UW Meteorologist Cliff Mass delivers some stark perspective: those two annual flights to Europe generate more greenhouse gases than most people produce in their entire homes over a year. Meanwhile, Boeing's monopoly status has eliminated market incentives for cleaner technology. This wasn't an oversight—it was intentional. Today, every airport community continues paying the price for decisions made decades ago that exempted aviation from automotive-level engineering standards. -
SAMP/SEPA 60 day public comment period opens
What you need to know The Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects SEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SEPA/DEIS) is now available. Public comment is open for sixty days, until July 21, 2026. There will be four Port-sponsored open houses and two webinars. Several cities will also receive briefings at their city councils. We will provide -
Ep #25 Highly Automated (Flight Paths Part II)
**Discover why environmental progress stalled for airport communities while cars got cleaner** Ever wonder why your car's emissions have dramatically improved over decades, but aviation seems stuck in the past? In this eye-opening episode of The Airport Communities Podcast, we explore the fascinating tale of two environmental paths that diverged after 1970. While Washington Senator Scoop Jackson spearheaded NEPA—one of the largest expansions of environmental policy in American history—and California secured game-changing carve-outs in the Clean Air Act that led to massive air quality improvements, aviation somehow got left behind. Despite Boeing being headquartered in Washington, aviation environmental standards never caught up. UW Meteorologist Cliff Mass delivers some stark perspective: those two annual flights to Europe generate more greenhouse gases than most people produce in their entire homes over a year. Meanwhile, Boeing's monopoly status has eliminated market incentives for cleaner technology. This wasn't an oversight—it was intentional. Today, every airport community continues paying the price for decisions made decades ago that exempted aviation from automotive-level engineering standards. -
EPA to roll back PFAS limits for drinking water
The Trump administration on Monday proposed rolling back limits on “forever chemicals” that contaminate millions of Americans’ drinking water and have been linked to a range of health problems. The proposal would partially rescind the first national drinking water limits for the chemicals — also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS — set -
SAMP/SEPA Preview
Sixty days to shape Sea-Tac's future. Draft SEPA comment period opens May 22. Subscribe now—learn how to make your voice heard on airport expansion.
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Upcoming Events
Item 11b is the SAMP/SEPA EIS introduction and presentation
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2:45pm - Host Update: City of Burien: Sarah Moore, Mayor, City of Burien
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2:55pm - SAMP NTP Environmental Update: Steve Rybolt, AV Environment
3:40pm - Highline Schools: Future Ready Overview: Janet Blanford, Director Secondary Success, College & Career Readiness, Highline School District
3:50pm - Port of Seattle Educational Partnerships: Marco Milanese
4:00pm - StART Update: Wendy Reiter
From The Web
From The Library
A report examining the barriers to implementing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Massachusetts, authored by Neil Rasmussen and Chuck Collins from the Institute for Policy Studies. The report analyzes challenges and obstacles facing SAF adoption in the state.continue...
Under The Flight Path
Under The Flight Path: A Community History of Sea-Tac Airport. Help us complete the first comprehensive documentary of any major US airport; the impacts on the cities and the people.continue...
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