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An internal email from Norm Peck of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program raises concerns about the rationale for allowing elevated levels of metals, especially lead and arsenic, in fill material for the Third Runway at Sea-Tac Airport. The issue was flagged by the City of Burien as a sensitive community concern, with potential implications for surrounding communities including SeaTac, Normandy Park, and Tukwila. Peck references previous precautions taken regarding arsenic at the Maury Island gravel pit and seeks guidance on Ecology staff decisions about allowable levels of arsenic and lead in the runway fill.

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As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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