Notes

Congressional Research Service report R46920 by Rachel Y. Tang analyzing federal airport noise regulations and programs, including Airport Noise Compatibility Planning (14 C.F.R. Part 150) established under the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (P.L. 96-193) and Airport Noise and Access Restrictions (14 C.F.R. Part 161) under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508). Covers FAA’s day-night average sound level (DNL) 65 dB threshold, NextGen Metroplex controversies, noise-related provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-254), Airport Improvement Program funding, Passenger Facility Charges, Stage 3 aircraft study, and potential revision of DNL 65 dB standard based on new annoyance research showing significant impacts at DNL 50–55 dB.

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Upcoming Events

Stay Grounded Event: Night trains, not night planes!
Add to CalendarMSunday Sep 13: 12:00am

For the past two years, more than 220 initiatives from 15 countries have declared September 13th as the International day for the ban of night flights at airports. In parallel, activists across Europe have been gathering for pyjama parties for night trains – coordinated in 2024 and 2025 by Back on Track and Stay Grounded.
[...]
Burien Airport Committee Meeting September 15, 2026
Add to CalendarMTuesday Sep 15: 6:00pm
400 SW 152nd St, Burien, WA 98166

a) Part 150 Noise Study (Emily Inlow-Hood) — 15 minutes
b) SAMP Update and Next Steps (Brian Davis and Sarah Moore) — 15 minutes
c) Legislative Updates — 10 minutes
• SCA (Sarah Moore)
• Work with Sen. Orwall (Brian Davis)
d) StART Reorganization (Jeff Harbaugh and Karen Veloria) — 10 minutes
[...]

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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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