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Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Assessment prepared by Parametrix, Inc. for the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Of Seattle for Master Plan Update Improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA), March 2001. Document AR049873 (project 556-2912-001) evaluates Pacific Coast salmon EFH — Chinook, Coho, and Puget Sound Pink salmon — in Miller Creek Basin, Des Moines Creek Basin, Green River Basin (including Gilliam Creek and Auburn Wetland Mitigation Site), and IWS Outfall Marine Habitat. Assesses aquatic habitat impacts, stormwater quality effects, hydrologic impacts, and conservation/enhancement measures; concludes with effects determination on EFH including direct, cumulative, synergistic, and indirect effects.

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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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