In September 2019, the City of Des Moines responded to a Port of Seattle apology letter regarding the allocation of $10 million for Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) design work without prior environmental review or stakeholder notice, which had prompted Des Moines and other nearby cities to temporarily suspend participation in the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART). The City challenged the Port's claims of meaningful progress on noise reduction measures, requesting specific data on the Late Night Noise Limitation program, changes to nighttime flight schedules, and the status of runway glide slope adjustments. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Sea-Tac Airport and surrounding communities over transparency, environmental compliance, and the effectiveness of collaborative noise mitigation efforts.Open full document
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The City of Des Moines responds to Executive Director Stephen Metruck’s September 5, 2019 letter, acknowledging his apology regarding the Port of Seattle’s allocation of $10 million for SAMP design work without environmental review or stakeholder notice. The letter requests clarification on several StART-claimed accomplishments, including the Late Night Noise Limitation program, changes to night-time flight schedules, and the status of runway glide slope adjustments. The City also reaffirms the importance of the StART charter’s commitment to transparent and collaborative dialogue.