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Stantec Sea-Tac Airport Communities Impact Study: Appendix A, Section 5 – Noise & Vibration

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This 2020 report examines how noise from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has changed between 1997 and 2019, focusing on the impact of aircraft takeoffs, landings, and overflights on nearby communities. It explains key noise measurement concepts—including decibels, Sound Exposure Level (SEL), and the Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL)—and notes that while DNL is the federal regulatory standard used by the FAA, individual SEL events are often what residents find most disruptive. The report highlights a growing tension between how federal agencies measure and regulate aircraft noise and the real-world experience of people living under flight paths.

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Notes

Appendix A, Section 5 (pages 61–99) of the Stantec 2019/2020 Department of Commerce Sea-Tac Airport Communities Impact Study, dated 29 May 2020. Covers noise and vibration effects of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport operations from 1997 to 2019. Topics include aircraft noise metrics (Lmax, SEL, DNL), A-weighted decibel (dBA) scale, Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL), Sound Exposure Level (SEL), FAA noise assessment standards, and typical sound levels from carrier jet takeoffs, ground operations, road traffic, and construction. Discusses noise sources including aircraft taxiing, fuel trucks, maintenance equipment, and periodic construction. References EPA 1974 sound level data and Oregon Airspace Initiative 2016.

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