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An email chain discussing the development of acceptable fill criteria language for the Draft 401 Certification related to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Third Runway project. The correspondence addresses ecological standards for fill material, including requirements for the uppermost six feet of fill to consist of clean natural soil, testing protocols referencing MTCA Table 749-3, and the need to address terrestrial ecological impacts on plants and animals. Officials debate whether to restrict fill material to naturally occurring uncontaminated soils and how to implement MTCA requirements in the context of the Third Runway fill project.

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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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