Notes

Revised direct testimony of Dave Garland, hydrogeologist and Watershed Unit supervisor at Washington State Department of Ecology Northwest Regional Office, submitted to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB No. 01-160) in the matter of Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) and Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE) v. Department of Ecology and Port of Seattle. Garland describes his role managing the legislature-mandated SeaTac Runway Fill hydrogeologic studies in 2000, conducted by Pacific Groundwater Group (PGG) and project manager Charles Ellingson, including use of Hydrus and Slice embankment models, 401 Certification review, Borrow Area 3 wetland impacts, and memos dated March 9, May 5, and August 7, 2001 to Ann Kenny. References PGG SeaTac Runway Fill Hydrogeologic Studies Report dated June 19, 2000. AR 002047.

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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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