March 7, 2002August 2, 2026

PCHB Doc 002903: Direct Testimony of Dave Garland on Behalf of Ecology — PCHB No. 01-160 (ACC and CASE v. Ecology and Port Of Seattle)

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Direct testimony of Dave Garland, hydrogeologist and Watershed Unit supervisor at Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office, submitted in PCHB No. 01-160 before the Pollution Control Hearings Board, State of Washington. Appellants are Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) and Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE); respondents are Ecology and Port Of Seattle. Garland details his background managing the legislature-mandated SeaTac Runway Fill hydrogeologic studies in 2000, use of Hydrus and Slice models by Pacific Groundwater Group (PGG) to characterize hydrologic impacts of the third runway fill embankment, 401 Certification review, Borrow Area 3 excavation wetland impacts, and December 2001 Low Stream Flow Analysis and Summer Low Flow Impact Offset Facility Proposal. References PGG’s SeaTac Runway Fill Hydrogeologic Studies Report dated June 19, 2000, and review memos dated March 9, 2001, May 5, 2001, August 7, 2001, and March 6, 2002.

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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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