Notes

Memorandum dated October 24, 2000 from Paula Ehlers, Section Manager, to Gordon White, Jeannie Summerhays, Ray Heilwig, and Seatac File, regarding refocusing work priorities for Tom Luster, Senior Policy Lead for federal permitting. Ehlers explains that Tom Luster’s involvement in the SeaTac Third Runway project has prevented him from fulfilling his statewide Section 401 Clean Water Act policy and guidance duties. Ann Kenny, trained by Tom Luster, is assigned to take over 401 work on the Third Runway project. Exhibit 2107, AR 033714, ECY00021441.

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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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