This 1996 Final Environmental Impact Statement, prepared jointly by the FAA and the Port of Seattle, evaluates proposed expansion plans at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through the year 2020, including the construction of a third parallel runway up to 8,500 feet long, a new north terminal, and various landside improvements. The document assesses environmental consequences across 24 categories—including noise, air quality, water quality, and human health—for a range of alternatives, from building a new regional airport to a no-build option. Ultimately, the Port of Seattle selected Alternative 3 as the preferred option, concluding that Sea-Tac was the only feasible site to address the region's growing air transportation needs.Open full document
Notes
This Final Environmental Impact Statement, prepared jointly by the FAA and Port of Seattle, assesses the environmental impacts of proposed development actions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of the 1996 Master Plan Update. Key proposals include construction of a third parallel runway (up to 8,500 feet), a new North Unit Terminal, extension of Runway 34R, and various landside improvements to be completed during 1996-2020. The document identifies impacts across 24 environmental categories including noise, air quality, water quality, wetlands, and floodplains.