Category : Legislation(150)

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) is a wide-ranging federal law that funds and reforms Federal Aviation Administration programs, including provisions addressing airport noise, community involvement in NextGen flight path projects, and environmental impacts of aircraft operations. The law includes specific sections on updating airport noise exposure maps, studying health and economic impacts of overflight noise, and requiring regional ombudsmen to address community noise concerns. It is relevant to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy as it shapes the federal framework governing how airports must measure, report, and respond to aircraft noise affecting surrounding communities.

A 2003 Washington State legislative memorandum outlines a proposed striking amendment to HB 2276, which would establish Aviation Mitigation Zones (AMZs) around large regional airports like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to address noise impacts on nearby communities. The amendment would require the Port of Seattle to levy $10 million annually from 2004 to 2007 into a dedicated mitigation fund, with spending restricted to affected areas within the AMZ. An advisory board and competitive grant process would be created to help distribute funds to eligible local governments, schools, and nonprofits in impacted neighborhoods such as Burien, Des Moines, Tukwila, and Normandy Park.

This is Washington State's 1995-1997 Operating Budget (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1410), passed by the state legislature on May 24, 1995, and signed by Governor Mike Lowry on June 16, 1995, with partial vetoes. The bill appropriates funding for state agency operations during the fiscal biennium from July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1997. Note: This document does not appear to contain content directly related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

Resolution No. 2943 was adopted by the Port Commission of the Port of Seattle to update the Noise Remedy Program for Sea-Tac International Airport, replacing the earlier noise remedy element from the 1976 Sea-Tac Communities Plan. The resolution authorizes property acquisition in high-noise areas, implementation of nine noise abatement measures, and a Demonstration Project (budgeted at up to $1 million) to test alternatives to acquisition such as noise insulation and transaction assistance for affected homeowners. Priority for remedies is given based on noise intensity, length of residency, and financial hardship, with annual progress reports required to guide ongoing program evaluation.

The Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-193) requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to establish uniform standards for measuring airport noise and its impact on surrounding communities. Airport operators may voluntarily submit noise exposure maps and noise compatibility programs outlining steps to reduce incompatible land uses near airports, such as soundproofing buildings, adjusting flight procedures, or acquiring nearby land. The federal government can fund up to 80% of approved noise compatibility projects, with grants available to airport operators and local government units in affected areas.

King County Ordinance No. 2883, passed in September 1976, officially adopted the Sea-Tac Communities Plan as an addendum to the King County Comprehensive Plan, establishing it as the guiding policy for land use, development, and redevelopment around Sea-Tac International Airport. The plan, developed with Federal Aviation Administration grant funding and extensive community involvement, addresses noise programs, open space acquisition areas, and compatible land use in the airport's vicinity. It required coordination between King County and the Port of Seattle on any future changes, with the Highline Communities Plan designated as the official zoning guideline for implementing its land use concepts.

Resolution No. 2626, adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission on June 8, 1976, formally accepted the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan as a guide for developing Sea-Tac International Airport in a way that maximizes compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods. The resolution directed Port staff to pursue federal funding for land acquisition in flight path zones, establish an aircraft noise monitoring system, and launch a pilot acoustic insulation program for nearby homes. Total noise abatement efforts were estimated to cost approximately $50 million over a ten-year period, with funding expected from airport revenues and federal assistance.