Category : Meetings(468)

The Port of Seattle Commission held a regular meeting on October 10, 2023, during which commissioners considered authorizing up to $3.5 million for a Sound Insulation on Places of Worship Program, part of a larger $25.87 million effort to reduce aircraft noise impacts on nearby religious facilities. The meeting also included approval of routine financial obligations and updates on other capital projects. Minutes from the previous September 26, 2023 meeting were submitted for consent approval.

The StART Federal Policy Working Group met on September 11, 2023, to discuss federal legislative updates and review a joint comment letter on the FAA's Noise Policy Review. Key topics included the stalled FAA reauthorization bill in the Senate, concerns over a potential government shutdown due to a $130 billion budget gap between the House and Senate, and edits to an 11-page comment letter addressing FAA noise contour metrics near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The group agreed to circulate the letter for signatures from city managers or mayors of the six neighboring cities, with a one-week deadline.

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on August 23, 2023 via Zoom covered Boeing Commercial Aviation's safety and sustainability technologies, presented by ecoDemonstrator Program Manager Rae Lutters, and a Washington State legislative update from Representative Tina Orwall. The agenda also included updates from Port of Seattle staff on Federal Policy and Aviation Noise Working Group activities. The meeting was chaired by SEA Managing Director Lance Lyttle, with the next session scheduled for October 25, 2023.

This August 2023 meeting summary from the StART Aviation Noise Working Group covers efforts to reduce aircraft noise around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, focusing on the Greener Skies program and its Optimized Profile Descents (OPD) approach, which allows planes to descend more quietly and efficiently using satellite-based navigation. Alaska Airlines presented on the successes and ongoing barriers to wider use of this approach, including expired FAA waivers, increased air traffic, and the cancellation of key sequencing tools. The meeting also reviewed the Port of Seattle's Late Night Noise Limitation Program, noting a decline in noise exceedances partly due to FedEx retiring its louder MD11 aircraft.

The StART Federal Policy Working Group met on July 17, 2023, to discuss federal funding developments and review a draft comment letter on the FAA's Noise Policy Review. Key topics included the status of FAA Reauthorization legislation, with four of seven StART priorities currently included in congressional bills, and efforts to add secondary noise insulation provisions. The group also reviewed noise measurement metrics and agreed on a July 31 deadline for member comments, with a final letter due to the FAA by September 29, 2023.