Quiet Skies Puget Sound presented concerns to the Aviation Committee 2.0 about the Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) draft Environmental Assessment, warning that 87,000 additional annual flights would pose serious public health risks to children, the elderly, and environmental justice communities. The group criticized the Port for failing to provide meaningful collaboration or mitigation across 4,600 pages of documentation, and argued that community forums like StART and the Highline Forum have been treated as mere formalities. On a positive note, the group highlighted growing opposition to the SAMP from the EPA, local cities, advocacy groups, and elected officials, as well as a favorable legal and regulatory environment for challenging the airport's expansion plans.Open full document
Notes
Presentation by Quiet Skies Puget Sound (QSPS) to the Aviation Committee 2.0, dated February 6, 2025, commenting on the SAMP draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Sea-Tac Airport. Document covers the bad/good context of the airport expansion situation: the EA proposes 87,000 additional annual flights with catastrophic public health consequences to children, elderly, and environmental justice communities; 4,600 pages of EA reflect no meaningful Port Of Seattle collaboration or mitigation; StART and Highline Forum characterized as ‘box checks.’ Positive context includes opposition from EPA, cities, advocacy groups, federal representative Adam Smith, state district senators and representatives, and legal/regulatory challenges to FAA outdated science regulations.