Notes

Pre-filed testimony of Amanda Azous, environmental scientist and professional wetland scientist (Society of Wetland Scientists No. 001067), submitted on behalf of Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) in PCHB No. 01-160, ACC & CASE v. Dept. of Ecology & Port of Seattle. Azous reviewed Port of Seattle documentation for Sea-Tac Airport proposed development impacts to wetlands, streams, and fisheries resources, including the Wetlands Delineation Report, Wetland Functional Assessment (December 2001), Natural Resources Mitigation Plan (November 2001), Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application, Low Flow Analysis/Flow Impact Offset Facility Proposal, Stormwater Management Plan, and Ecology’s CWA Section 401 certification decisions dated August 10, 2001 and September 21, 2001. Azous is co-editor of Wetlands and Urbanization (CRC/Lewis Press 2000) and was part of the Puget Sound Wetlands and Stormwater Management Research Program Team.

Sidebar On/Off

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.

continue...

V V

Notes

Message