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Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) motion to compel entry upon the Third Runway/Master Plan Update project area filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB No. 01-160) against Department of Ecology et al. ACC seeks an order for access to observe, photograph, and sample soils, wetlands, and streams in the project area. Motion details Port Of Seattle’s obstruction of ACC’s CR 34 request for entry served November 26, 2001, while Port granted unfettered access to Ecology staff including Ann Kenny and Ray Hellwig (Northwest Regional Office) and Des Moines Chamber of Commerce group (~50 people including Jeanne Moeller). Attorneys Helsell Fetterman LLP and Rachael Paschal Osborn represent ACC; experts include Amanda Azous, Dyanne Sheldon, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, GeoSyntec Consultants, Columbia Biological Assessments, Greg Wingard (Waste Action Project).

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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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