November 6, 1992August 2, 2026

EXH AR038603: Findings, Conclusions, and Decision — City of Federal Way Appeal of Flight Plan Project EIS Adequacy

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Office of the Hearing Examiner, Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Findings, Conclusions, and Decision on City of Federal Way appeal (filed November 6, 1992) challenging adequacy of the Flight Plan Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued by PSRC as nominal lead agency and Port of Seattle as co-lead agency. Appeal challenges FEIS adequacy in three areas: Economics, Noise, and Health. City sought withdrawal of non-project FEIS and preparation of project-action EIS covering series of reasonable system alternatives including third runway at Sea-Tac, Paine Field supplemental service, multiple airport system, and closure/replacement alternatives. Port of Seattle Resolution No. 3125 directed staff to prepare plans for third runway construction. Decision: denial of appeal. Document reference FLPL 0006778, AR 038603.

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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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