TagCity of Burien(341)

The Burien Airport Committee held a meeting on December 17, 2024, to discuss topics related to Sea-Tac Airport noise and expansion policy, including a wrap-up of public comments on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), a possible multi-city response to the SAMP, and potential state-level mitigation legislation. The committee also considered expanding its membership from five to seven members and reviewed a StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) committee update. Members of the public were invited to participate in person at Burien City Hall, via Zoom, or by submitting written comments in advance.

Four cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines — submitted formal comments in December 2024 objecting to the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Environmental Assessment. The cities warn that planned growth will increase annual flight operations by nearly 20% by 2032, expanding the noise impact zone and exposing an estimated 22,000 residents to significant aircraft noise, up from about 14,000 in 2022. They call on the Port of Seattle to extend public review periods, improve its sound insulation program, and take proactive steps to protect the low-income and minority communities most burdened by airport noise.

The City of Burien submitted formal comments in December 2024 arguing that the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Sea-Tac International Airport contains serious flaws, including an unrealistically narrow study boundary that ignores noise and air pollution impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. The city contends that the plan fails to account for cumulative impacts such as the SR-509 highway extension, the 2008 opening of the airport's third runway, and emerging science on health risks from ultrafine particles and aircraft noise. Burien is calling for a full Environmental Impact Statement rather than the less rigorous Environmental Assessment currently underway.

This document outlines the City of Burien's 2025 State Legislative Agenda, covering priorities such as affordable housing, migrant assistance, childcare access, infrastructure investment, and property tax reform. It also addresses public safety topics including law enforcement training, gang prevention, and behavioral health co-responder programs. Note that while Burien is located near Sea-Tac Airport, this particular document does not contain content specifically related to airport noise policy.

The City of Burien's 2025 Federal Agenda, prepared by the Johnston Group, outlines lobbying priorities that include pushing for reduced airport noise and emissions near Sea-Tac Airport, conducting a new SEA-TAC noise study, and securing dedicated funding for aviation-impacted communities. The agenda also seeks increased Sustainable Airport Master Plan funding and supports the FAA Reauthorization Act as key vehicles for advancing these goals. Burien's federal lobbying effort aims to build congressional relationships and align city priorities with available federal funding to address the ongoing impacts of airport operations on surrounding neighborhoods.

Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update, dated October 18, 2024, prepared by the City of Burien. Evaluates three alternatives: Alternative 1 (No Action), Alternative 2 (Neighborhood Centers), and Alternative 3 (Greater Downtown). Addresses 20-year growth targets for housing and jobs, new future land use map, zoning districts, Transportation

A letter from the City of Burien to WSDOT criticizes the 2017 Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP) for failing to address the health and environmental impacts of growing aircraft noise and air pollution on communities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The letter argues that the plan focuses too narrowly on aviation and economic development while ignoring issues such as hearing loss, poor student performance, sleep disruption, and asthma affecting lower-income and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. The author calls on WSDOT and regional governments to explore alternative airport locations to relieve the disproportionate burden placed on South King County communities.

The Burien Airport Committee (BAC) recommends capping flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, citing unacceptable health burdens from aircraft noise and air pollution on surrounding communities. The committee argues that decades of regional planning studies have failed to identify alternatives to concentrating all air traffic growth at Sea-Tac, and that current expansion plans will likely be insufficient beyond 2025. BAC opposes Sea-Tac's SAMP expansion plan and calls on state and regional officials to identify alternative locations for future air passenger and cargo growth.