April 24, 2001August 2, 2026

EXH AR028160: Memorandum for Record — Corps Review of Draft Response to Comments from Azous and Sheldon on Third Runway

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Memorandum for Record (MFR) dated 24 April 2001 from CENWS-OD-RG summarizing telephone conversations with Elizabeth Leavitt and Jim Kelley (Port of Seattle consultants) on 9-10 April 2001 regarding the Army Corps of Engineers’ review of the Port’s draft responses to letters from Azous and Sheldon concerning the Third Runway project at Sea-Tac Airport. Corps comments address 404(b)(1) Guidelines compliance, wetland impact assessment (temporary vs. permanent), cumulative impact analysis in the NRMP, Miller Creek flooding, MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) walls, borrow areas, stormwater ponds, headwater wetlands, organic matter/food web impacts, and Sheldon letter responses on water flow and cross-sectional drawings.

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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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