May 24, 2000August 2, 2026

Review of Wetlands Impacts Resulting from Construction of Temporary Interchange at SR509 and S. 176th Street

Notes

A professional wetland scientist retained by the Airport Communities Coalition reviews potential impacts to Wetland 43 from construction of a temporary interchange at SR509 and S. 176th Street associated with the third runway project at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. The report concludes that construction will result in periodic sediment-laden stormwater discharges to Wetland 43 due to inconsistent wetland boundary documentation and steep slope conditions near the construction zone. The author finds that temporary erosion control measures are inadequate and that the proximity of the construction site to the wetland will cause significant environmental consequences to water quality, aquatic habitat, and vegetation.

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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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