Notes

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants writes to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) identifying inconsistencies in the Port of Seattle’s Stormwater Management Plan for Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan Update Improvements. The letter raises two key concerns: (1) the SMP’s failure to account for future commercial development of borrow pit areas despite Port plans anticipating redevelopment within five years, and (2) the NRMP reverting to an older stormwater management approach relying on Regional Detention Facilities constructed by others, which contradicts the current SMP. The letter references newly disclosed documents obtained through public disclosure requests.

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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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