Notes

Declaration by Brett Fish, President of Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE), filed in PCHB No. 01-160 (Airport Communities Coalition v. Washington State Department of Ecology and Port Of Seattle). Fish declares CASE’s interest in intervening in the ACC’s appeal of Ecology’s 401 Certification for the proposed third runway and master plan update at Sea-Tac Airport. CASE contends that Ecology’s 401 Certification inadequately protects water quality standards in Miller Creek, Walker Creek, Des Moines Creek, and Gillian Creek; that the NPDES permit conditions are insufficient; that Ecology negotiated revisions with the Port Of Seattle without public comment opportunity; and that existing parties do not adequately represent grassroots citizen interests. CASE also has a pending NPDES permit appeal before PCHB as No. 01-090. Represented by Smith & Lowney, P.L.L.C.

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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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