In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines submitted joint scoping comments urging the Port of Seattle to broaden its environmental review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) beyond just near-term construction projects. The cities argued that cumulative impacts — including a projected 60% increase in aircraft operations and 75% rise in passengers by 2034 — require a full analysis of noise, air quality, and traffic effects on nearby communities. They also called for a baseline period starting in 2012, rather than 2018, to capture the significant growth and airspace changes that have already occurred without adequate environmental review.Open full document
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A joint letter from the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac to the Port of Seattle providing scoping comments on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects environmental review. The letter raises concerns about the disproportionate impacts of airport growth on surrounding communities, including noise, air quality, and traffic. The cities argue that the environmental review must encompass the entire SAMP rather than only near-term projects, and that the baseline for analysis should extend back to 2012.