Notes
Letter dated April 15, 1998 from J. Gary Oldenburg, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Animal Damage Control, State Director WA/AK/HI/Pacific Islands, to Jonathan Friedman, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District, follow-up to public hearing of April 9, 1998. Strongly opposes establishment of any new wetlands within 10,000 feet of runways at Sea-Tac Airport citing FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33 and bird strike hazards, particularly Canada geese and dabbling ducks. References 11 waterfowl bird strikes reported to FAA between March 1991 and September 1997, 1995 Alaska aircraft accident killing 24 crew members, and Section 404 permit for wetland fill/on-site mitigation. Argues wildlife strike rates increase with animal abundance near airports and opposes on-site wetland mitigation as incompatible with safe aircraft operations.