TagBurien Airport Committee(142)

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.

The League of Quiet Skies Voters hosted a Town Hall on April 25, 2019, at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, WA, to address concerns about aircraft noise and emissions from Sea-Tac Airport's ongoing expansion. The event featured Congressman Adam Smith and inventor Chris McCann, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and software engineer who created Airnoise.io, a device that automates the filing of aircraft noise complaints directly to airports. The Town Hall aimed to educate voters on health and environmental risks of airport expansion, highlight complaint data collected at 39 airports nationwide, and discuss strategies for engaging policymakers on noise policy reform.

This FAA presentation, delivered to the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz Counties Airport/Community Roundtable in March 2019, explains that addressing aircraft noise impacts requires a collective effort involving airport sponsors, airlines, elected officials, community members, manufacturers, and the FAA. It highlights the Airport/Community Noise Roundtable as an effective mechanism for coordinating that effort. The Western Service Area hosts several such roundtables, including the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Roundtable serving the Seattle area.

The Burien Airport Committee met on March 19, 2019 to discuss concerns about Sea-Tac Airport's impact on the surrounding community, including noise pollution, safety, and health effects. The agenda included updates on federal and regional aviation policy efforts, and a review of three resolutions adopted by the Burien City Council on January 28, 2019, addressing airport growth, noise pollution, and requests for health impact monitoring. The committee also discussed priorities for 2019 and how to advance action on these resolutions at the local, state, and federal levels.

The City of Burien, Washington adopted Resolution No. 405 on January 28, 2019, amending an earlier resolution to update the structure of the Burien Airport Committee, an advisory body focused on issues related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key changes included consolidating community membership into up to six resident and business representatives appointed by the City Council, adding the City Manager as an Ex-Officio member, and expanding the committee's purposes to include coordinating information sharing among city representatives on airport-related bodies and staying informed on regional airport studies. The committee advises the City Council on matters such as noise and traffic impacts, land use, mitigation measures, and ways to protect residents and businesses from negative airport effects.

The Burien Airport Committee met on January 15, 2019 to review and update three proposed city resolutions addressing growth and safety, noise pollution, and health impacts related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The committee also discussed a proposed resolution to restructure its own membership by removing the distinction between business and resident members and adding ex-officio seats for representatives from other airport-related groups. Additional agenda items included an update on open applications to fill vacant committee seats.

The City's Aviation Advisory Committee met on January 14, 2019 to discuss ongoing efforts related to SeaTac Airport noise concerns, including drafting a letter to the Port of Seattle and planning a joint meeting with City consultants in May 2019. Committee members reported on a Port of Seattle noise meeting in Burien that drew criticism for the speaker's refusal to address airport noise issues. Three members of the public commented, with suggestions ranging from hiring a full-time airport lobbyist to increasing EPA involvement in reducing noise emissions.