Notes

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants writes to the Washington State Department of Ecology on behalf of the Airport Community Coalition regarding low streamflow analyses related to SeaTac Airport 401 Certification. The letter raises concerns that ongoing analyses by Parametrix (the Port’s consultant) remain based on models of uncertain suitability, likely underestimate airport impacts on low streamflows in Des Moines, Walker, and Miller Creek, and fail to account for post-1994 Industrial Wastewater System expansions and future airport business park development. The ACC requests that a final report documenting the low streamflow analysis and mitigation proposal be issued and subject to public comment before Ecology relies upon it for its 401 decision.

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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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