Category : Meetings(468)

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on June 23, 2021 via Zoom covered key topics including a Seattle-King County Public Health study on the health impacts of aviation, an update on the SAMP public process, and reports from the Federal Policy Working Group and Aviation Noise Working Group. The meeting was chaired by Lance Lyttle, SEA Managing Director, and facilitated by Brian Scott, with presentations from public health researchers and Port of Seattle staff. A follow-up meeting was tentatively scheduled for August 25, 2021.

This document summarizes a June 14, 2021 meeting of the StART Aviation Noise Working Group, which advises the Port of Seattle on noise issues around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics included an update on the proposed glideslope angle adjustment for Runway 34R (recommending proceeding with a 3.0-degree change), an analysis of noise abatement departure profiles showing that the Distant NADP currently used by most airlines benefits the majority of affected neighborhoods, and a review of the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program highlighting that FedEx Express, China Airlines Cargo, and Amazon Prime Air had the highest late-night noise exceedances. The group agreed to continue monitoring departure profiles without further action and to pursue renewed outreach to carriers with high late-night noise levels.

The StART Federal Policy Working Group met on June 7, 2021 to discuss three potential federal policy items: a proposed EPA pilot grant program to study aircraft noise and emissions in airport communities, the American Jobs Plan's relevance to StART's policy agenda, and the Sustainable Skies Act's tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel. Members agreed to bring three options for supporting the American Jobs Plan back to their communities for feedback before making a decision at the next meeting. Policy updates were also shared, including a submitted application for a secondary noise insulation pilot program and a planned Port of Seattle grant application partnering with Microsoft to use AI to reduce aircraft emissions and ground noise.

This document is the agenda for a StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on April 28, 2021, via Zoom, focused on air travel recovery and airport noise issues near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics included a national airline recovery forecast presented by Airlines for America, a local SEA aviation forecast, and an overview of the Port of Seattle's Noise Insulation Program. The meeting also featured updates from the Federal Policy Working Group and the Aviation Noise Working Group, along with a public comment period.

The April 28, 2021 StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting covered air travel recovery forecasts, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's aviation outlook, and updates on the Port of Seattle's Noise Insulation Program, which has spent approximately $400 million on sound insulation and property acquisition since 1985. Key noise-related discussions included progress on a late-night flight limitation program, a potential glideslope adjustment for Runway 34R, and temporary noise monitoring deployments in communities surrounding the airport. Residents and working groups continued to raise concerns about the health impacts of late-night cargo flights, while federal funding opportunities for expanded noise insulation efforts were explored.

This document summarizes an April 12, 2021 Aviation Noise Working Group meeting held via Zoom, where Port of Seattle representatives provided updates on efforts to reduce aircraft noise around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics included progress on raising the 34R glideslope angle from 2.75 to 3.1 degrees (complicated by FAA ownership of equipment), a report on late-night flight noise violations by cargo carriers like FedEx and Amazon Prime Air, and a recap of a study comparing close-in versus distant departure procedures. The group also discussed the Port's temporary noise monitoring program, with current deployments in Normandy Park and Vashon Island and a planned deployment in Burien.

This document summarizes a April 5, 2021 meeting of the StART Federal Policy Working Group, which advises on cooperation between the Port of Seattle and communities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Guest speaker Annie Russo of Airports Council International outlined 2021 legislative opportunities related to aircraft noise and emissions, including the Biden infrastructure plan, annual appropriations earmarks, and the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Act. Port of Seattle staff also provided updates on expanding sound insulation eligibility for pre-1993 residences, a $2.5 million earmark request for re-insulation, and upcoming virtual meetings with congressional staff.

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on February 24, 2021 brought together the Port of Seattle and neighboring communities to discuss issues related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The agenda included updates on new operating procedures, neighborhood environmental survey results, and reports from the Federal Policy and Aviation Noise Working Groups. The meeting was facilitated by BDS Planning & Urban Design, a firm specializing in inclusive community decision-making processes.

The StART Aviation Noise Working Group met on February 8, 2021, to review updated operating procedures, discuss late-night noise issues driven by increased cargo flights during COVID-19, and examine fleet changes trending toward quieter aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key findings included FedEx leading in late-night noise exceedances, a significant drop in Third Runway use during late-night hours, and an FAA survey showing 66% of residents near airports are highly annoyed by aviation noise. Future topics under consideration include incentives or penalties for carriers operating late at night and further studies on ultrafine particulates and public health impacts.

The StART Federal Policy Working Group met on February 1, 2021, to discuss opportunities under the Biden administration to advance the group's federal aviation policy priorities, including sustainability and noise-related issues near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Presenter Eric Schinfeld of the Port of Seattle outlined three mechanisms for achieving policy goals: executive action, legislation, and budget reconciliation, highlighting the COVID relief and Build Back Better packages as key vehicles. The group also identified target congressional relationships to develop, including outreach to Senator Cantwell, Representative Larsen, Eastern Washington members of Congress, and peer aviation communities in Boston and the Bay Area.