Notes

The Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) filed this reply brief in support of its motion to compel inspection of Port of Seattle property, including wetlands, surface waters, and soils. ACC argues that the Port has improperly restricted site access despite providing unrestricted access to Ecology staff and Port consultants, and that CR 34 expressly permits such inspection and sampling. ACC contends the Port’s belated offer of a site visit is inadequate and that its demands for a hold harmless agreement and strict route have no legal basis.

Sidebar On/Off

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.

continue...

V V

Notes

Message