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The SAMP is the fourth major expansion of Sea-Tac and will add as much new capacity as any previous build-out. But it is the first that does not add a new runway or expand airport property. That is why the environmental review process offers no compensation or mitigation, although the negative impacts to your community will be just as significant.
Documents
Legal Response
Despite concerns from communities ranging from Beacon Hill to Federal Way, only four cities have chosen to take formal action. In 2018, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac and Normandy Park signed an interlocal agreement to hire consultants to study legal options. After the SAMP ROD was published, Normandy Park dropped out. Here is information on that agreement and the current status
2018-2027 Four City ILA SAMP Consultants
Coverage
- Burien Airport Committee Meeting January 20, 2026BUSINESS AGENDA a) StART Updates: StART Day in Olympia (Jeff Harbaugh and Karen Veloria, Committee Members) – 10 minutes b) SAMP Updates: SAMP Appeal (Adolfo Bailon, City Manager and Brian Davis, Vice Chair) – 5 minutes c) Legislative Updates: SB 5652 and related developments (Brian Davis, Vice Chair) – 5 minutes d) Update on Port
- Sea-Tac Airport’s answer to crowding? Construction
By Lauren Rosenblatt and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton Seattle Times staff reporters In September 2022, travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport waited over an hour to clear security checkpoints. Lines stretched all the way to the airport’s parking lot. By the next year, Sea-Tac was, according to one major analytics firm, the third worst “mega” airport in - Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac File Joint Petition for Review of FAA Decision
Posted on 12/09/2025 On September 26, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed their National Environmental Policy Act review of the Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects. Based on the review, the FAA approved a Final Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for 31 proposed - Cities appeal Sea-Tac airport expansion plans, including new terminal
Daily operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle Times) By Lauren Rosenblatt Seattle Times business reporter The cities of Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac are challenging the Port of Seattle’s long-term vision for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The three cities filed a petition for judicial review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s - City of SeaTac Agenda Bill 6794 – Legal Services for Airport Environmental ReviewCity of SeaTac SAMP ILA AB6794 November 12, 2025 Request for Council Action MAYOR EGAL: That’s fine with us. Right. Okay. So that is for that. The next item will be an action item agenda bill 6794, an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a letter of engagement for legal services, authorizing the city
- SAMP legal challenge 2/2: different year, same mistakes
Analysis As reported in Part I: Between November 3rd and November 13th, city councils in Burien, SeaTac, and Des Moines each voted unanimously to enter into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA). The agreement retains outside legal counsel to challenge the Federal Aviation Administration’s Record of Decision (ROD) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Sustainable - SAMP legal challenge 1/2: Three cities move forward, Normandy Park outPiecemeal rollout suggests lack of shared commitment Between November 3rd and November 13th, Burien, SeaTac, and Des Moines each voted unanimously to enter into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to retain outside legal counsel to challenge the Federal Aviation Administration’s Record of Decision (ROD) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan
- Sea-Tac Airport moves closer to a new terminal
By Lauren Rosenblatt Seattle Times business reporter Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one step closer to opening a new terminal, part of the airport’s master plan to accommodate millions of passengers moving through the crowded airfield. The Federal Aviation Administration last month approved 31 projects at Sea-Tac to help the airport keep up with an expected - Port of Seattle Commission 2026 Budget / SAMP briefingsPort of Seattle Commission discusses 2026 budget & SAMP. Aviation thriving with stable cost per passenger. SAMP got 125+ supportive comments vs 2 opposed. Environmental review weakened.
- Port of Seattle SAMP Webinar
Not deep. But a few good insights Airport Interim Aviation Director Arif Ghouse was joined by SAMP Environment Manager Steve Rybolt and Landrum & Brown’s Sarah Potter for a one hour and fifteen minute Q&A on the FAA’s recent Sustainable Airport Master Plan Record Of Decision. Both have been working on the project for many - FAA Signs Off on SAMP NTPFinding of no significant impacts. 60 day appeal clock begins After an almost nine year process the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued its long-awaited Finding of No Significant Impact / Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects (SAMP NTPs). This clears the way for construction on
- Fixing Sea-Tac: Much-Needed Airport Expansion is a Long Way Off
ByMike Merritt November 21, 2024 The Port of Seattle is taking the next critical steps toward what will be Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s last major expansion before it runs out of room. On Oct. 31, the Port published the federal environmental assessment of its Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which analyzes the impacts and potential mitigation - SAMP Draft EA: Our running list of questions
The one thing we hear over and over from community members re. the SAMP Draft EA is “What do I say?” “How do I get started?” We get it. One way we want to help is to provide some of our questions, which we’ll be updating frequently before submitting our full comment before the December - The Cost/Benefit Analysis
Beyond the usual suspects in the SAMP Draft EA Comment Period During the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft EA Comment Period (SAMP) we know most people will focus on the noise and pollution. However, we also hope that readers, and especially cities, will focus on other areas which may prove just as useful in obtaining - As Sea-Tac traffic grows, so does airport communities’ need for relief
By Brian Davis Special to The Seattle Times The Port of Seattle has unveiled a new Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The plan will enable a huge surge in passenger and cargo traffic over the next decade. Great for the Puget Sound economy. Terrible for thousands of people who live under the - SAMP Draft EA: How to provide a great public comment
1How to provide effective public comment by December 13, 2024 Because new ways for you to participate will likely become available, this article may be subject to updates. Introduction This is the second of a two-part article concerning the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment (SAMP Draft EA). If you’re looking for the short - Port Commission Meeting features SAMP EA and Tax LevyFour hours, 700 pages Meeting Agenda It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft EA Presentation (Item #11a SAMP EA Presentation) Sarah Potter: Landrum & Brown, Steve Rybold and Sarah Cox: Port of Seattle Today’s Commission meeting was
- The SAMP Comment Period Explainer (Intro)
Preparing for the October 21st Comment Period This is the first of a two-part article concerning the SAMP comment period. We’re including a few paragraphs of background because the process has been so lengthy–with many years of delay. The feedback we’ve received thus far has been confusion, partly because the information on the Port’s official - SAMP Update September 20, 2024After a four year pause, Environmental Review of Near-Term Projects begins October 21 with a 45 day comment period. The end result will be 2025 rulings by the FAA (NEPA) and the State of Washington (SEPA) to determine whether or not a full EIS is required.
- Port of Seattle Commission SAMP Study Session
A Commission Special Meeting will be held on September 5, 2024. 10:00 a.m., Study Session on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The meeting will be held at the Port of Seattle Headquarters Building Commission Chambers, located at 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle Washington. - Port outlines priorities for Sea-Tac Airport in proposed spending plan
By Marissa Nall – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Oct 31, 2023 The Port of Seattle plans to commit another $1.1 billion to its massive, rolling capital projects agenda at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport under its newly proposed budget for next year. Introduced late last week, the budget sets the stage for $5.3 billion in capital - Lead designer named for $1.5B overhaul of S Concourse at Sea-Tac Airport
By Marissa Nall – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Aug 2, 2023 Port of Seattle has selected global design firm HOK to lead the next piece of its massive capital improvement program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The St. Louis-based firm was named lead designer for the airport’s S Concourse renovation, one of several mega-projects in design or underway at - Upgrade SEA — The Next Era of Capital Projects Takes Flight
By Aly Lande, Capital Project Marketing Specialist Picture an airport journey without long lines and overflowing crowds. You follow a predictable and easy path from curb to gate with the space, services, and amenities that make your trip just right. There is more of what you know and love about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), plus more - The Fourth Runway
We’ve begun using the term “Fourth Runway” to describe two large projects (SR-509 and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan) as one system, which they are. The two projects have always been part of a regional plan begun over fifty years ago to meet the strategic goals of the Port Of Seattle and regional planners. The construction of SR-509 will affect the communities are great deal. But starting in 2027 the projects will also increase flight operations at least 33% and cargo operations by 300%. - Widen Arrivals Roadway ProjectStatus: Approved Project Overview This project is a roadway improvement project aimed to help alleviate the crowding and congestion outside of the airport, update systems, and make updates to support the ever-changing environment and dynamic region. The original roadway was designed in 1968 to support an average of about 25 million
- ‘It’s Not Going to Happen’: Commissioners Dismiss Residents’ Fears of Major Expansion of Toledo AirportMeeting: Residents Remain Wary as State Considers New Sites to Alleviate Pressure on Sea-Tac By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com The runway of the Ed Carlson Memorial-South Lewis County Airport in Toledo is seen in this image on the WSDOT website. Lewis County officials have again signaled that they have no intention of transforming Toledo’s South
- Remaking 70-Year-Old Sea-Tac International AirportBy Tim Newcomb Construction of the North Satellite project, which added gates and modernized the existing facility, was done without disrupting airport operations. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PORT OF SEATTLE An 85-ft-high walkway at the International Arrivals Facility connects the new grand hall to the South Satellite. It was installed at night to limit the impact on
- SAMP For Dummies
The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is the blueprint for increasing flight capacity by one third in the next ten years. It will have the same community impact as the Third Runway. In fact, it is happening now. How this is possible, and what it means for us. - Expansion projects aim to keep Sea-Tac Airport from being a ‘bottleneck’ to region’s growthAn Alaska Airlines jet taxis beneath an enormous pedestrian bridge, still under construction at Sea-Tac Airport. It will link the south satellite with the new International Arrivals Facility. Ed Ronco / KNKX 8:29 Sea-Tac Airport’s Lance Lyttle talks with KNKX All Things Considered host Ed Ronco. Lance Lyttle’s office offers a view across most of
- Port of Seattle MeetingNoise Programs Briefing. SAMP Near-Term Projects Update. Sea-Tac Airport, Mezzanine Level. Free parking. The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is the blueprint for changes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to meet future demand. In addition to a Long-Term Vision, the SAMP includes more than 30 Near-Term Projects (NTP) that are planned for construction by 2027
- This is how the Port of Seattle crafted its $2.3B Sea-Tac Airport expansion planSea-Tac Airport passenger volumes are surging, hitting 51.8 million in 2019 and forecast to hit 56 million a year by 2027. Airport staffers are planning projects now to be finished or underway by then to ensure the facility can handle the growth. ANTHONY BOLANTE By Andrew McIntosh – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Trying to forecast
- Port of Seattle delays environmental review for Sea-Tac airport expansionsBy Andrew McIntosh – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Dec 18, 2019 The Port of Seattle has delayed the environmental review process for potential Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion projects until late 2021. The public agency said a statement Monday it’s taking more time for its own environmental review following public feedback on its Sustainable Airport
- Turbulence Over Sea-TacState officials are actively seeking a second major airport site outside King County BY:BILL CONROY FROM THE PRINT EDITION DECEMBER 2019< FacebookTwitterPinterestShare Image Credit: Gene Faught CAPACITY CRUNCH. Sea-Tac’s accelerating capacity issues have prompted the creation of a state commission charged with identifying a site for a major new commercial airport by Jan. 1, 2022. This
- By Andrew McIntosh – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Nov 27, 2019 Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, who led a task force on Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion, says a proposal to build a $2.3 billion standalone terminal fails to address concerns raised by his group. In a letter to the five-member Port of Seattle Commission
- Exclusive: Alaska Airlines says Sea-Tac’s $2.3B terminal expansion plan has ‘critical shortcomings’By Andrew McIntosh – Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal Nov 21, 2019 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s $2.3 billion plan to build a standalone North Terminal to manage passenger growth has “critical shortcomings,” Alaska Airlines says. In letters to Sea-Tac Airport leaders and interviews with the Business Journal, Alaska says the facility’s plan for a 19-gate terminal
- The problem with citiesAs one attempts to survey the landscape concerning the various negative impacts that the Sea-Tac Airport has foisted upon the surrounding communities, one quickly becomes aware of a black hole which I call ‘The Dark Time’–probably because I watched too many comic book movies with my kids. The Dark Time is the roughly decade-long period
- Transcript of Four City ILA SAMP Consultant Presentation to the Des Moines City Council June 6, 2019This is a machine-generated transcript. There may be errors in spelling of both names and words. See here for meeting video and explainer. SECTION 1: [Mayor Matt Pina]: Said everybody turn the microphones on so you got a green light in front of you. This is the June 6, 2019 city council study session. I
- Arlyn PurcellCurrently, Arlyn Purcell is the SEPA contact for the Sea-Tac Airport SAMP program. The Port of Seattle Selected Arlyn Purcell, AICP, as New Director, Aviation Environment and Sustainability SEATTLE, WA– Following a nationwide search, thePort of Seattle has selectedArlyn Purcell, AICP to be the new Director, Aviation Environment and Sustainability at the Port of Seattle.
- SAMP Public Comments Due!On-line form E-Mail US Postal: Mr. Steve Rybolt Port of Seattle Aviation Environment and Sustainability P.O. Box 68727 Seattle, WA 98168
- SAMP: We’ve had our Open House. Now what?OK, so we had our Open Houses, kids. So what’s the next crisis to react to? Sorry to sound snarky. I do believe all these current issues matter. And I applaud everyone in the community and government who are reacting to them. Well done. Really. (At some point I have to develop the nerve to
- Port Of Seattle Video: SAMP Explanation from Landrum & BrownCommunications Manager Perry Cooper interviews Rob Allen, Executive VP of Landrum & Brown, the consultants hired to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
- Real Sustainability
So the past couple of days I’ve been ‘slumming’–attending the Des Moines ‘Ad Hoc’ Aviation Committee meeting and then a Burien City Council Meeting on Monday. And then the last StART meeting on Tuesday. I’ve made no secret of my disdain for these groups but that has little to do with the people who are, - Sea-Tac Airport breaks ground on multi-million dollar expansion
North Terminal will gain 201,000 sq. ft.; Dining and shopping areas will expand 02/03/2017 Officials from the Port of Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport broke ground on Feb. 3 on a multi-million dollar project that will expand and update much of the facility’s aging North Satellite plus double the dining and shopping areas. More than 201,000 - Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan UpdateThe Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is wading through a process to plan for airport growth for passenger and cargo service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport over the next 20 years. The plan looks at what types of actions should be taken to accommodate and mitigate growth of airport operations. The Port of
- Seattle-Tacoma Airport Master Plan DevelopmentSeattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport, one of the fastest growing and busiest airports in the US, served more than 42 million passengers and 332,000 metric ton (mt) of air cargo in 2015. Project Type Airport master plan Location Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, US Estimated Investment $1.645bn Start of Construction Q1 2017 Expected Completion 2021 Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac)
- Sea-Tac Airport neighbors get close-up view of environmental effortsSea-Tac Airport neighbors get close-up view of environmental efforts 04/28/2016 folksonbus.JPG To celebrate Earth Day, the Port of Seattle hosted residents from nearby communities to get a close up view of the many programs Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has in place to protect and improve the environment. Sea-Tac airport neighbors first got a briefing from Sea-Tac
- Port of Seattle Reviews Designs for an Expanded International Arrivals Facility at Sea-TacMatt Ball on July 13, 2015 – in Design/Engineering, Projects, Transportation The Port of Seattle is in the conceptual design phase of an expanded International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. With this 1970’s vintage facility in the south satellite servicing a dramatic increase in international flights, the existing Federal Inspections area (commonly known
- Port has big Sea-Tac Airport plans for next 25 yearsTwo ironworkers shake hands after putting the final beam in place for Sea-Tac Airport’s consolidated rental car facility. The facility will open to the public on May 17. Port of Seattle photo SeaTac City Council members heard a presentation recently by Port commissioner John Creighton on the Port of Seattle’s Century Agenda. The agenda is