August 1, 2001August 2, 2026

EXH AR017820: Email Chain — Ecology Internal Communications on Third Runway Decision Announcement Strategy

Notes

Internal email chain dated August 1, 2001 among Washington Department of Ecology staff Thomas Fitzsimmons, Sheryl Hutchison, Dianne Pastore, and Raymond Hellwig regarding communications strategy around the Sea-Tac Airport third runway decision. Topics include scheduling media availability, coordinating with the governor and Isaki, Port Commission meeting on August 14, E-Board contact timing, press attendance at the August 14 meeting, and arranging phone calls with Seattle editorialists. Exhibit 95, case 1-8-02.

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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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