Notes

Direct testimony of Gordon White, Program Manager for the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program at the Washington Department of Ecology, submitted in PCHB No. 01-160 before the Pollution Control Hearings Board. The testimony introduces White’s qualifications and describes Ecology’s responsibilities under CWA § 401 Water Quality Certifications, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and other environmental statutes. The case involves Airport Communities Coalition and Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion as appellants against the Department of Ecology and Port of Seattle.

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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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