Notes

Declaration by Sally Nelson, Mayor of Burien, submitted to the Pollution Control Hearings Board regarding the Airport Communities Coalition’s appeal of the Department of Ecology’s Section 401 Clean Water Act Certification for the Port of Seattle’s airport projects. Nelson argues that Ecology’s decision was politically driven rather than scientifically grounded, citing the removal of senior staff expert Tom Luster and numerous unanswered questions in the certification process. She contends that the overriding public interest lies in environmental protection and an impartial review by the PCHB before the certification takes effect, and challenges claims that proceeding with the third runway project is urgently needed given declining air traffic post-September 11.

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As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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