Category : Meetings(440)

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.

This document summarizes the StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on December 9, 2020, where participants discussed the outcomes of a Federal Policy Working Group meeting regarding how national election results might affect aviation noise legislation, and planned a virtual Washington DC Fly-In for cities and the Port of Seattle to meet with Congress and the FAA. Members also reflected on three years of StART participation, with representatives from Normandy Park, Burien, SeaTac, and Alaska Airlines noting that initial skepticism had given way to productive partnerships and meaningful dialogue about balancing airport growth with community impacts. The meeting concluded with a discussion of priorities for 2021 and a farewell to outgoing facilitator Phyllis Shulman.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held a video conference meeting on December 9, 2020, focused on reviewing the Federal Policy Working Group's recent discussions and planning priorities for 2021. Members from the Port of Seattle, six neighboring communities (SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila, and Federal Way), Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and the FAA reflected on StART's accomplishments and shared input on strengthening community relationships. The group's comments and survey results were submitted to the StART Steering Committee to shape the organization's 2021 agenda, with the next public meeting scheduled for February 24, 2021.

This document summarizes a December 7, 2020 virtual meeting of the StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) Federal Policy Working Group, which brings together representatives from cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Port of Seattle staff, and congressional offices to address aviation noise and policy issues. The meeting covered how the 2020 election results might affect airport-related legislation, a review of European Union aviation environmental policies—including tying airline financial relief to green commitments—as a potential model for U.S. advocacy. The group also discussed plans for a virtual Washington D.C. fly-in to meet with Congress, the FAA, and the Department of Transportation to advance the StART policy agenda.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport operates a permanent noise monitoring system consisting of 24 monitors placed in surrounding communities and along flight paths north and south of the airport's three runways. Upgraded in 2015 with Larson Davis 831 equipment, the system continuously captures aircraft noise event data for both departures and arrivals. This data is compiled monthly and made publicly available through the Port of Seattle's Noise Programs website.

The October 28, 2020 StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting brought together the Port of Seattle and neighboring communities to discuss aircraft noise monitoring at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics included an overview of SEA's permanent and new temporary noise monitoring systems, a review of late-night noise data showing cargo carriers as the top source of exceedances, and updates from the Federal Policy Working Group on plans to meet virtually with Congressional representatives and FAA leadership. The cities of Des Moines, Burien, and Federal Way also rejoined StART at this meeting, with the next session scheduled for December 9, 2020.

The October 28, 2020 StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting covered updates on federal aviation noise policy advocacy, including plans for virtual meetings with Congressional representatives and FAA leadership. The group also reviewed data on late-night noise complaints, cargo carrier exceedances, and runway usage, and received a detailed presentation on Sea-Tac Airport's permanent noise monitoring system, which uses 24 ground-based monitors and FAA radar data to track and correlate aircraft noise events across surrounding communities.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) Federal Policy Working Group met on October 5, 2020 to discuss congressional updates and aviation noise legislation. Key topics included the Aviation Impacted Communities Act proposed by Rep. Adam Smith, which aims to expand FAA noise impact recognition beyond the current 65 DNL standard and require the FAA to engage directly with affected neighborhoods near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The group also discussed the limited near-term legislative opportunities due to Congress being focused on COVID-19 relief and a Supreme Court nomination ahead of the November 2020 election.