TagCity of Burien(240)

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.

In January 2019, the City of Burien, Washington considered Resolution No. 407, a measure drafted by the Burien Airport Committee to address noise pollution from nearby Sea-Tac Airport. The resolution highlighted that the airport's rapid growth had caused serious health, environmental, and economic harm to Burien residents, with current FAA noise level standards far exceeding the safer thresholds recommended by the World Health Organization. The Burien Airport Committee recommended adoption of the resolution, which called for updated noise impact assessments and greater consideration of off-site noise effects.

In January 2019, the City of Burien, Washington considered Resolution No. 408, which called for air quality monitoring and health impact assessments of Sea-Tac Airport operations. The resolution highlighted that air traffic had exceeded the airport's projected levels by over 30% and that no air quality monitors existed near the six closest cities to the airport. The Burien Airport Committee recommended adopting the resolution, citing concerns about residents' exposure to pollutants linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health conditions.

In January 2019, the City of Burien, Washington considered Resolution No. 406, calling for action on growth and safety concerns at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The resolution highlights the negative health, environmental, and economic impacts on Burien residents due to the city's proximity to the airport, and notes that even with a planned $10 billion expansion under the Sustainable Airport Master Plan, the airport would still lack sufficient capacity within a decade. The city supported ongoing state and federal studies into regional aviation capacity and the impacts of airport operations on surrounding communities.

The Burien Airport Committee met on December 18, 2018 to review three draft resolutions addressing airport growth, noise, and health impacts related to Sea-Tac Airport, and to discuss the committee's composition and purpose. Prior meeting minutes from October and November 2018 were also up for approval, with earlier discussions having covered recommendations from Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force and scoping comments on Sea-Tac's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Environmental Impact Statement. The committee, made up of city council members, business representatives, and residents, was working to shape Burien's policy response to ongoing airport expansion and its effects on the surrounding community.

The Green Cities Partnership, funded by the Port of Seattle, supports healthy urban forests in the near-airport communities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines through community-based restoration projects. Key initiatives include a Forest Steward Program, where trained volunteers lead park and natural area restoration efforts, and a Neighborhood Tree Program offering tree walks, plantings, and care activities. The project also includes an urban forest assessment and a community-supported enhancement plan aimed at reducing carbon emissions 80% from 2007 levels by 2050.

The Burien Airport Committee met on November 15, 2018, to discuss potential city council resolutions related to airport noise and impact issues, including ideas drawn from Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force Report. The committee also reviewed updates on the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement, which was described as being in its early stages. Additional agenda items included an update on the committee's appointment process and approval of minutes from the October 16, 2018 meeting.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines jointly submitted scoping comments on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, raising concerns about the growing impacts of airport expansion on their communities. The cities argued that the environmental review must cover the entire SAMP—not just near-term construction projects—to fully account for cumulative impacts including increased aircraft noise, air emissions, and traffic congestion in nearby residential neighborhoods. They also called for a baseline assessment stretching back to 2012 to capture significant growth that has already occurred without adequate environmental review.