Category : Key Documents(137)

A 2022 World Health Organization report on environmental noise outlines the health risks posed by traffic, aircraft, and leisure noise, including increased risk of heart disease, sleep disturbance, and hearing impairment. The report recommends that aircraft noise levels stay below 45 dB for average exposure and below 40 dB at night to protect public health. It also defines mitigation strategies ranging from reducing noise at the source to behavior change and community education.

This draft report, prepared by Stantec and Ricker Cunningham for the Washington State Department of Commerce under ESSB 6032, examines the current and ongoing effects of operating Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). It covers the airport's broader impacts on surrounding communities, likely including noise, land use, and environmental concerns. The report was released in draft form on February 28, 2020, for review and comment only, and was not intended for final distribution at that time.

This FAA guidance document explains how to analyze cumulative environmental impacts for aviation projects, meaning the combined effect of an airport action together with other past, present, and foreseeable future actions by any agency or party. It outlines how to define the study area, determine significance, and consider mitigation, noting that even individually minor impacts can together become significant. While focused on FAA projects broadly, it is relevant to noise and environmental planning at airports like Sea-Tac, where surrounding development and multiple simultaneous projects can compound environmental effects.

The MOV-UP (Mobile ObserVations of Ultrafine Particles) study was a two-year University of Washington research project, funded by the State of Washington, that measured air quality impacts from aircraft traffic on communities living near and beneath the flight paths of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Researchers used mobile monitoring methods to collect ultrafine particle data across the affected neighborhoods, working alongside local governments, community members, and an advisory group of agency and city representatives. The findings are intended to inform policymakers and the public about the air pollution risks associated with airport operations in the Seattle-Tacoma region.

An introduction to airport noise, DNL65 and Part 150 by Mr. Steve Alverson of ESA – the firm used by the Port of Seattle for the current Part 150 Study and SAMP

This January 2018 report from the Port of Seattle examines the economic impact of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which handled an estimated 46.8 million passengers and roughly 425,860 metric tons of air cargo in 2017. The airport directly supported 19,100 on-site jobs and $5.6 billion in economic activity, while generating nearly $22.5 billion in total economic output and 151,400 jobs across Washington state when multiplier effects are included. The report also highlights the airport's role as a critical trade gateway, including the export of Washington-grown cherries to international markets.