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Declaration of Erik Stockdale, Senior Wetlands Specialist with Washington State Department of Ecology, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, filed in PCHB No. 01-133, Airport Communities Coalition v. State of Washington Department of Ecology and Port Of Seattle. Stockdale details his qualifications (certified Professional Wetlands Scientist, SWS) and role evaluating wetland impacts under Clean Water Act § 401 Certification for the Port Of Seattle Master Plan Update at SeaTac International Airport. The project requires filling 18.37 acres of palustrine freshwater wetlands in the Miller, Walker, and Des Moines creek basins. Document discusses wetland mitigation, Washington State Function Assessment Method, Puget Sound Wetlands & Stormwater Management Research Program, King County, Paine Field wetland mitigation bank, and Ecology’s 401 Certification review process beginning in 1996.

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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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