TagBurien Airport Committee(138)

On November 19, 2019, the Burien Airport Committee and the Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee held a joint meeting at Des Moines Beach Park Dining Hall to discuss airport-related legislative priorities and the conditions under which their cities might rejoin StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable), a regional forum addressing Sea-Tac Airport impacts. The agenda included a report from a Legislative Agenda subcommittee and discussion of steps needed before re-engaging with the roundtable process. The meeting reflects ongoing community efforts by cities neighboring Sea-Tac Airport to coordinate policy responses to aviation noise and related concerns.

The Burien Airport Committee met on October 15, 2019 to discuss whether to rejoin the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), with survey results showing mixed opinions among members. The committee also reviewed environmental review requirements under NEPA and SEPA related to the Sustainable Airport Master Plan, and discussed legislative priorities prepared by a joint subgroup with Des Moines. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for November 18, 2019 to continue discussions on StART participation, a potential EPA meeting, and the future of the Joint Airport Committee.

The Burien Airport Committee met on October 15, 2019 to discuss the city's participation in the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), review legislative priorities related to the airport, and consider a meeting request with the EPA Administrator. The agenda included draft minutes from a September 17, 2019 joint meeting with the Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee, where members debated conditions for rejoining StART or forming an alternative community forum. Key concerns raised included meeting transparency, equal agenda-setting rights, and greater involvement of elected officials in airport noise and policy discussions.

The Burien Airport Committee met on October 15, 2019 to discuss the city's relationship with the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), including whether to rejoin the forum under new conditions or establish an alternative. The agenda also covered state and federal legislative priorities related to airport noise and operations, and a proposed meeting request with the EPA Administrator. Draft minutes from a September 17, 2019 joint session with the Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee were also reviewed for approval.

A September 2019 planning matrix and email from El Centro outlines a multi-agency legislative strategy addressing Sea-Tac Airport noise and environmental justice concerns. Key priorities include passage of Washington HB 1847 to expand the noise abatement area from 6 to 10 miles, amendments to RCW 47.80.030 to fund PSRC air transportation planning, and advocacy for the Port of Seattle to adopt a triple-bottom-line policy covering economic, environmental, and social wellbeing. The documents were prepared for a Legislative Task Force meeting involving representatives from federal, state, and regional bodies including PSRC, the Port of Seattle, and King County.

In August 2019, Sharyn Parker of the Burien Airport Committee and Quiet Skies Coalition submitted detailed feedback on draft Aviation Impacted Communities Act legislation, proposing specific language changes to strengthen noise and emissions protections for communities around Sea-Tac Airport. Her comments addressed technical issues such as decibel measurement standards, the use of Noise Monitor Stations, air quality monitoring gaps, and the limitations of the FAA's 65 dB DNL noise threshold. The email thread also includes input from other stakeholders raising concerns about loopholes in the bill's definitions and the need to broaden aircraft classifications beyond 'jets' to include turboprops and other aircraft types.

This document contains the agenda and draft minutes for the Burien Airport Committee meeting held on July 30, 2019, focused on community concerns about Sea-Tac Airport. Key topics included draft letters to Senator Keiser and Congresswoman Jayapal regarding FAA questions, ongoing discussions about FAA Part 150 noise mitigation options, and the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The committee also discussed coordinating with the Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee and reviewed notes from recent stakeholder meetings with airport planning consultants.

The Burien Airport Committee met on June 18, 2019 to discuss airport noise and planning issues related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including debriefing on recent stakeholder meetings with consultants Stantec and Lockridge Grindal Nauen, and a Port of Seattle presentation to Burien City Council. The committee considered potential letters to the Port of Seattle, Senator Karen Keiser, and the FAA regarding concerns about the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and Part 150 noise study noncompliance. Members also reviewed research on airport governance structures and complaint processes at large airports across the country.

The Burien Airport Committee met on May 21, 2019 to discuss several airport-related issues, including updates on the Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process, the formation of a coalition of local elected officials to address airport concerns, and research into noise mitigation programs such as the Sound Insulation Program. The committee also reviewed a Federal Way letter to University of Washington professors regarding a study on ultrafine particle pollution from aircraft, and discussed Burien's ongoing participation in the Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable (StART). Draft minutes from the April 16, 2019 meeting reflect earlier discussions on flight curfews, landing fee structures, and airport governance as potential tools for reducing noise impacts on surrounding communities.

In a May 2019 email to Sharyn Parker, Debi Wagner outlines her extensive advocacy history related to Sea-Tac Airport and aviation environmental issues, including serving on the Burien Airport Advisory Committee, co-founding US Citizens Aviation Watch in 1998, and co-authoring Burien Resolution 375 in 2015. Her experience spans noise, air quality, and climate change concerns, with roles on the Port of Seattle Energy and Sustainability Committee and the UW Ultrafine Advisory Panel. Handwritten notes on the document also reference Resolution #408 for the Burien Airport Committee in 2019 and membership in the Clean Air Network, a regional group of air quality experts and educators.