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Alaska Airlines 2018 Scoping Comment Letter on Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan Environmental Review

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In a September 2018 letter to the Port of Seattle, Alaska Airlines urged that the environmental review of Sea-Tac Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) be conducted as a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than the less rigorous Environmental Assessment (EA) proposed by the Port and FAA. The airline argued that an EIS would provide stronger legal protection, more meaningful public input, and ultimately prove more cost-effective by reducing litigation risk. Alaska Airlines also pushed back on the Port's plan to focus expansion alternatives solely on a North Terminal, advocating instead for serious consideration of extending and modifying existing Main Terminal concourses as a viable alternative.

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September 27, 2018 letter from Shane Jones of Alaska Airlines to Steve Rybolt, Port of Seattle Aviation Environmental and Sustainability, commenting on the scoping process for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) proposed environmental assessment at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac Airport). Alaska Airlines argues the Port and FAA should conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under NEPA rather than an Environmental Assessment (EA), warning that an EA/FONSI approach risks litigation, onerous mitigation obligations, and cost overruns. The letter also argues that the range of alternatives is legally inadequate under NEPA, specifically that the Port’s exclusive focus on North Terminal alternatives ignores a viable Main Terminal concourse extension alternative proposed by Alaska Airlines. Horizon Airlines referenced as Alaska Airlines wholly-owned subsidiary. Puget Sound regional growth and airport-wide capacity concerns cited.

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