Notes

Memorandum dated May 3, 2000 from Jim Kelley (Wetland Ecologist, Parametrix Inc.) to Jonathan Freedman (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), cc Elizabeth Leavitt (Port of Seattle), analyzing indirect impacts to wetlands from the temporary SR-509 interchange at South 176th Street near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Concludes no significant indirect impacts to Wetland 43 or Wetland 44 (Walker Miller Creek Watershed) will occur; no discharge of fill material into waters of the United States. Interchange constructed on existing SR-509 road fill; stormwater detention and water quality treatment facilities addressed. Relates to Third Runway construction haul route; references 1996 Final EIS, 1997 Final Supplemental EIS, FAA Record of Decision July 3, 1997, and Hydrologic Report by HNTB 2000. AR 044528.

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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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