EXH AR023054: ACC Wetland Scientist Letter to Army Corps – Wetland 44a & SR509 Temp Interchange

An independent wetland scientist, writing on behalf of the Airport Communities Coalition, raised concerns with the US Army Corps of Engineers about potential mapping errors affecting Wetland 44a near the proposed SR509 Temporary Interchange for Sea-Tac Airport's Third Runway project. The letter warned that discrepancies between engineering drawings and actual field conditions could mean the wetland was closer to the construction zone than documented, risking illegal filling or sediment discharge into protected wetlands. The scientist urged the Corps to verify the wetland's true location and review erosion control measures before approving any construction permits.

Notes

Letter dated May 14, 2001 from Amanda Azous of Azous Environmental Sciences to Muffy Walker and Gail Terzi at the US Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Section, Seattle District, on behalf of the Airport Communities Coalition (ACC). Raises concerns about mapping discrepancies between engineering drawings prepared by HNTB Corporation and actual field conditions regarding the position of Wetland 44a relative to SR509 and the proposed Third Runway SR509 Temporary Interchange at S. 176th Street in the City of SeaTac. Identifies potential errors in topography, wetland boundary, and right-of-way depictions on sheet D2 of Drainage Plans and sheet GP-2 Grading Plan; warns of risk of wetland fill and sedimentary discharges to Wetlands 43 and 44a, headwaters of Walker Creek and Des Moines Creek. Attaches June 5, 2000 report with field observations near Manhole AC-5 and Southwest Suburban Sewer District map. Exhibit AR023054–AR023056.

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