May 12, 2000August 2, 2026

EXH AR017767: Ecology Memo to Governor’s Chief of Staff on May 16 Meeting with Port Of Seattle Re Third Runway

Notes

Memo dated May 12, 2000 from Ray Hellwig, Regional Director, Washington Department of Ecology (Northwest Regional Office), to Joe Dear, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, regarding a May 16 meeting between Mic Dinsmore (Executive Director, Port Of Seattle), the Governor, and Wes Ulman, arranged by Martha Choe at CTED. Covers Ecology’s 401 Water Quality Certification review timeline for the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway, King County stormwater management plan review, Miller and Des Moines Creeks base-flow modeling, aquatic resource management plan, SR-509 temporary access road cumulative impacts, and Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) resolution deadline (Steven Kyle advises non-issue). Notes POS late submittals, Port’s admission of underestimating King County Stormwater Management Manual standards, and Ecology’s July 2000 target decision date. Exhibit 81, dated 1-8-02, M. Green.

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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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