Category : Meetings(468)

This is the agenda for the Port of Seattle Commission Regular Meeting held on June 11, 2024, covering a range of port business items including approval of financial claims totaling over $116 million, LED lighting upgrades at Terminal 91, and environmental cleanup work at Terminal 115. The meeting also addressed an order requiring all cruise ships to use shore power at Port facilities by 2027, along with the introduction of a resolution to issue up to $850 million in revenue bonds for aviation facility improvements. No items on this agenda specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The Port of Seattle held the first Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting on June 10, 2024, to kick off a Part 150 noise study for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The meeting covered the committee's purpose and role, an airport overview, an introduction to aircraft noise modeling, land use compatibility, and the project schedule. Environmental consulting firm ESA, with experience at more than 230 airports nationwide, is leading the study.

The Port of Seattle Commission held a regular meeting on May 14, 2024, covering a broad range of airport and waterfront business items. Among the agenda items relevant to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport operations was the 2023 Annual Report from the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table and the presentation of Sustainable Century and Fly Quiet Awards, both of which address noise management and environmental performance at Sea-Tac Airport. The meeting also included authorizations for major airport construction and infrastructure projects totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

A letter from retired aviation professional Walt Bala urges the Port of Seattle to enforce limits on the use of reverse thrust by aircraft landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, arguing this is both safe and already supported by FAA standards and the airport's own master record. Bala contends that aircraft are certified to land without reverse thrust, that brakes alone are sufficient to stop a plane under normal conditions, and that airlines may be using reverse thrust primarily to reduce brake wear at the expense of neighboring communities' peace and quiet. He calls on the Port to back up its existing noise abatement guidance with concrete action, including incentivizing quieter airline operations through gate allocation policies.

Vincent Mestre is a California-licensed Professional Engineer with over 40 years of experience in noise control and acoustical engineering, specializing in airport noise studies, environmental impact analyses, and computer modeling. He founded Mestre Greve Associates in 1978, later joined Landrum & Brown, and has conducted noise compatibility studies at more than two dozen U.S. airports, including international consulting work for governments and airport authorities worldwide. His published research and leadership roles in professional organizations have contributed to shaping national and international airport noise policy and monitoring standards.

This is the agenda for a Port of Seattle Commission Special Meeting held on April 16, 2024, covering a range of administrative and capital project approvals, including solid waste management at the airport terminal, water reservoir rehabilitation, and a duty-free concessions project at Concourse A. The meeting also addressed the adoption of Resolution No. 3821, which establishes tree replacement standards and a Land Stewardship Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. While the agenda touches on environmental stewardship at Sea-Tac, it does not contain specific noise policy items or noise mitigation measures.

The StART Policy Working Group met on April 1, 2024 to discuss federal and state policy updates related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport noise issues. Key federal topics included the passage of FY2024 appropriations, FAA Reauthorization progress, and efforts to secure funding for inspecting and repairing 'failed' sound insulation in nearby homes. On the state side, Washington's newly signed SB 5955 was summarized, which establishes a partnership between the state and the Port of Seattle to fund inspections and replacement of failed noise mitigation equipment, with a grant program set to sunset in 2029.