Notes
Letter dated August 7, 2026 from Tukwila Mayor Thomas McLeod to Steve Rybolt, Senior Environmental Program Manager at Port Of Seattle, regarding the SEPA Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects Draft EIS. The City of Tukwila raises concerns that the 3,692-acre General Study Area (GSA) is too geographically limited to capture full impacts of Sea-Tac Airport operations on south King County communities. Specific issues include inadequate analysis of parks and recreation, heat island impacts, socioeconomics, environmental justice, and children’s health (Appendix K). The letter cites the Health Effects of Aviation Noise: Review of US Research and Findings (45dB nighttime sleep disturbance threshold), the Washington State Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, and the Port’s own Equity Policy. The City requests expansion of the GSA to include the incorporated boundaries of SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, and Federal Way (the Airport Communities), and notes that the SEPA Environmental Justice Memorandum prepared by Parametrix is inadequate. The letter also flags that no Port Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion staff appear in Tables Q-1 and Q-2 of the SEPA documents.