July 20, 1998August 2, 2026

Order #96-4-02325: Water quality certification and coastal zone consistency determination for Port Of Seattle – master plan improvements

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The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a water quality certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination to the Port of Seattle for construction of a third runway and other improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The order addresses work impacting 8-12 acres of wetlands, 980 linear feet of Miller Creek, and 2,280 linear feet of unnamed tributaries, with mitigation including stormwater management, stream enhancements, and 16-24 acres of replacement wetlands in Auburn, Washington. The letter notes specific penalties for non-compliance and conditions that must be met before work in wetlands or other state waters can begin.

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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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