CASE & RCAA Appeal of Port Of Seattle Resolution No. 3212 (Third Runway Vote)

In August 1996, community groups CASE and RCAA formally appealed the Port of Seattle's Resolution No. 3212, which approved construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The appeal argued that newer navigation technologies such as Localizer Directional Aid (LDA) and GPS, combined with demand management strategies, could provide equivalent airport capacity at far lower cost and with less environmental harm. The groups requested a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate these technology-based alternatives and reconsider the third runway decision.

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Letter dated August 23, 1996, from CASE (Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion) and RCAA to the Port of Seattle General Counsel appealing Resolution No. 3212, adopted August 1, 1996, which approved the Master Plan Update for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport including development of a new dependent air carrier runway (Third Runway). The appeal requests reversal of the decision and preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the 1996 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) examining alternatives including Localizer Directional Aid (LDA), Global Positioning Satellites (GPS), and demand management. Argues the Third Runway impacts over 100 acres of wetlands, endangers Highline’s drinking water, violates the Clean Air Act and SEPA economic practicality, and that the FEIS is noncompliant with SEPA and the SIP. References Air Transport Authority March 20, 1996 statement on ATC inefficiency. Signed by CASE, RCAA, Pork Patrol, and A. Brown; copied to DOT Sid Morrison, FAA Dennis Ossenkop, EPA Chuck Clark, PSABCA Dennis McLerran, Puget Sound Regional Council, and City of Burien.

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