March 15, 2002August 2, 2026

PCHB Doc 01-160: Prefiled Testimony of Joseph Brascher — ACC and CASE v. Ecology and Port Of Seattle

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Prefiled testimony (with errata corrections) of Joseph Brascher of AQUA TERRA Consultants 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. State of Washington Department of Ecology and Port Of Seattle. Brascher testifies regarding low streamflow hydrologic modeling at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) third runway project, including HSPF (Hydrologic Simulation Program — FORTRAN) modeling of Miller Creek and Walker Creek, calibration methodology, integration of Hydrus and Slice models, embankment modeling, effective recharge calculations, and runoff analysis. Brascher was retained by Earth Tech (December 1999), King County Department of Natural Resources (July 2000), and Parametrix (August 2000). Administrative Record reference AR 002320.

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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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