Exhibit 212: Tom Luster (Ecology) Letter to Senator Julia Patterson on Sea-Tac Third Runway Section 401 Water Quality Certification Review

In a January 2001 letter to Washington State Senator Julia Patterson, outgoing Department of Ecology official Tom Luster summarizes the key water quality issues surrounding the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion review under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The assessment outlines concerns including stormwater management, wetland impacts, streamflow, and whether the project's discharges would meet state water quality standards for antidegradation, beneficial uses, and numeric water quality criteria. Luster notes the views are his own and may not fully reflect Ecology's current position, directing the Senator to contact Ann Kenny at Ecology's Northwest Regional Office for the latest information.

Notes

Exhibit 212 (AR 018758–018759). Letter dated January 21, 2001, from Tom Luster, Washington State Department of Ecology, to Senator Julia Patterson responding to her request for information on Ecology’s Section 401 Clean Water Act certification review of the proposed SeaTac Airport third-runway expansion. Luster, who was leaving for a new position in California and had been removed from the project in October, provides a brief assessment attachment titled ‘Issues Related to Ecology’s Section 401 Water Quality Certification Review of the Proposed SeaTac Airport Expansion,’ covering antidegradation requirements, beneficial uses, numeric and narrative water quality criteria, stormwater plan, streamflow augmentation plan, wetland impacts and mitigation, and clean fill standards. Refers readers to Ann Kenny at Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office (425-649-4310). Copied to Tom Fitzsimmons, Bill Alkire, Gordon White, Ray Hellwig, Paula Ehlers, and Ann Kenny.

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