Category : Correspondence(195)

The Washington Aviation System Plan is a 20-year statewide guide aimed at building a more integrated, multimodal air transportation network across Washington State. Signed by Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar, the plan highlights aviation's role as an economic driver, community connector, and environmental tool, citing benefits such as expanded travel options, improved emergency services, and reduced carbon emissions. It calls for collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal governments, communities, and the aviation industry to meet the state's growing transportation needs.

In December 2022, the Port of Seattle and six nearby cities (SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila, and Federal Way) wrote to Washington's congressional delegation urging them to include aircraft noise and emissions reforms in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization bill. Their seven proposals cover topics such as expanding federal funding for noise insulation upgrades in homes near Sea-Tac Airport, creating a new Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee, and accelerating the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to cut carbon and air pollution. The letter reflects the work of the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), a collaborative forum the Port and cities jointly established to address the growing impact of airport operations on surrounding communities.

In a July 2022 congressional hearing, Chairman Ro Khanna highlighted the health dangers of leaded aviation fuel (Avgas) still used in small general aviation aircraft, noting that children near airports in communities of color face blood lead levels exceeding those seen during the Flint water crisis. The statement criticizes the FAA and EPA for failing to act urgently on phasing out leaded fuel, despite the existence of viable unleaded alternatives, and accuses oil companies and aviation industry groups of deliberately delaying the transition. Khanna calls on federal agencies to accelerate approval of lead-free fuel options, involve affected communities in decision-making, and use infrastructure funding to support the switch to unleaded aviation fuel.

In a June 22, 2021 letter, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (operated by the Port of Seattle) raised formal concerns about a Public Health–Seattle & King County report examining community health impacts from airport-related noise and air pollution. The Port objected that it was not consulted during the report's development and questioned the methodology, noting that SEA aircraft account for only about 0.25% of total PM2.5 emissions in the region. The letter calls for a more rigorous toxicity assessment and asks how other contributing health factors—such as smoking rates and access to medical care—were accounted for before drawing conclusions about the airport's health impacts.