Notes
April 2019 fact sheet published by the Beacon Hill Community Noise Team documenting residential noise pollution levels in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle from aircraft arriving at Sea-Tac Airport (flying 2,500 feet or less overhead) and King County Airport, as well as road traffic from I-5 and I-90. In 2018, volunteers collected 136 24-hour noise measurements at 1-second intervals from 52 residential sites. Results show more than half of measurements exceeded FAA airport mitigation thresholds, the Seattle City noise ordinance by 100%–800%, and EPA public health and welfare levels by 100%–800%. Noise levels in Beacon Hill are similar to or louder than Port of Seattle measurement sites within 2 miles of Sea-Tac Airport. Aircraft fly over Beacon Hill every 90–180 seconds; Port of Seattle projects 8–12% annual flight growth. Document also highlights community health burdens including top-25% King County rates for poverty, infant mortality, diabetes, stroke, and lack of health insurance among Beacon Hill’s nearly 40,000 residents.