Notes

Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) Publication #94-115 reporting natural background concentrations of metals in surficial soils throughout Washington State, based on a seven-year study co-sponsored by USGS Water Resources Division (Tacoma Office). Study divided Washington into 24 regions, selected 12 for statewide assessment, collected 490 soil samples from 166 locations including Puget Sound, Clark County, Yakima Basin, and Spokane Basin. Reports 90th percentile values (mg/kg, total-recoverable) for aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and zinc. Statewide 90th percentile values: arsenic 7 mg/kg, lead 17 mg/kg, copper 36 mg/kg, zinc 86 mg/kg. Arsenic east-side 90th percentile was 15% higher than west side. Samples collected from A, B, and C soil horizons to 3 ft depth. AR038631, AR038632.

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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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