NL Winter 2000v 4

The Newsletter of the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs Vol. 6, No. 1 Winter 2000 CROWD PACKS SEA-TAC WETLANDS HEARING On November 3, a crowd of more than 500 people overflowed the auditorium at Foster High School in Tukwila for a hearing on the revised application of the Port of Seattle for permission to destroy 18-plus acres of wetlands as part of its third-runway project. Both the Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must determine that there will be no needless, unmitigated im- pacts on wetlands and wildlife before they can give permission for the Port to begin construc- tion of the third runway in the headwaters of Miller and Des Moines Creek, west of the exist- ing airport. The hearing was sponsored by the two agencies. The Corps is responsible for clear- ing the so-called “404” permit, which is needed to fill any wetland. Ecology is responsible for issuing a “401” certificate, which concerns the water quality in State waters, wildlife issues, and impacts on the coastal zone. The auditorium was too small for the crowd, so the fire marshal turned away many latecom- ers. Only 59 of those who signed up to speak were called to the podium. Local elected public officials led off the testimony with vigorous com- plaints about the over-all project, the details of the wetlands damage, and the inadequate pro- cess. Aside from some Port-paid “experts”, al- most all of the speakers pointed out serious de- ficiencies in the Port’s…
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