• 1990-01-08

    FAA role in use of land at Sea-Tac

    A January 1990 FAA briefing document outlines the agency's role in land use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, explaining that federal involvement stems from approximately $115 million in federal funds spent on the airport since 1970 for planning, land acquisition, construction, and noise insulation. The FAA supported the concept of a park on airport land, provided the Port of Seattle maintained ownership and control, airport funds were not used for the park, and only compatible uses were allowed. The document also details Sea-Tac's noise mitigation efforts, including over $50 million in federal grants to acquire roughly 750 noise-impacted land parcels and more than $7 million to insulate 323 homes near the airport.
  • 2023-04-24

    FAA authority to change the 65 DNL noise contour

    Aviation noise consultant Vince Mestre explains to the Port of Seattle why changing the FAA's 65 DNL noise contour standard — the threshold used to determine acceptable aircraft noise near residential areas — would likely require an act of Congress rather than a simple regulatory update. The 65 DNL standard is embedded in at least three federal regulations and orders (CFR 14 Parts 150 and 161, and FAA Order 1050.1F), all of which trace their authority back to enabling legislation such as the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (ASNA) of 1978 and the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990. Because the FAA's rulemaking authority is granted and bounded by those Congressional statutes, modifying ASNA would most likely be required before the FAA could formally lower or otherwise change the noise compatibility standard.