TagCity Of SeaTac(241)

The City of SeaTac acknowledged a public records request (PRR25-568) from Paula Rodriguez seeking all communications, proposals, and scoring related to the selection of legal services for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), covering both NEPA and SEPA processes from January 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025. The request was received on November 30, 2025, and assigned a tracking number for processing by the relevant city departments. The City anticipated fulfilling the request by December 19, 2025.

Three cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — SeaTac, Des Moines, and Burien — are challenging a September 2025 FAA decision that declared a major airport expansion plan would have no significant environmental impact. The cities argue the FAA's environmental review was legally flawed because it used an artificially narrow baseline, ignored cumulative effects, and underestimated impacts on noise, air quality, and traffic in surrounding communities. The case is being heard in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals alongside a related challenge brought by Vashon Island Fair Skies, with the FAA seeking to consolidate both cases.

City of SeaTac officials exchanged emails in November 2025 regarding a Petition for Review filed to appeal the FAA's NEPA Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision, coordinated under an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the cities of Burien and Des Moines. A council member raised concern about the petition listing 'Attorneys for Vashon Island Fair Skies' rather than the three cities, to which Director Evan Maxim clarified that outside legal counsel Mr. Taber also represents other parties including Vashon Island in a related SAMP appeal, and that the reference was likely included by mistake. SeaTac is identified as the primary party in the event of any conflict of interest among the represented parties.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has opened a case (No. 25-7439) in which the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac are jointly challenging the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation over airport-related policy. The petitioning cities must submit mediation questionnaires by December 1, 2025, and file their opening briefs by February 13, 2026, with federal respondents' answering briefs due March 16, 2026. Failure by the cities to meet the opening-brief deadline could result in dismissal of the case.

This interlocal agreement between the City of SeaTac and the City of Burien outlines roles, responsibilities, and cost-sharing for the Miller Creek Stream Realignment and Daylighting Project, which will improve fish passage and replace an aging culvert under Des Moines Memorial Drive. Burien will design and construct the project, while SeaTac agrees to reimburse Burien up to $985,000 for work performed within SeaTac's right of way. SeaTac retains inspection and approval rights over all construction elements within its jurisdiction.

Three Washington cities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac — filed a legal challenge on November 24, 2025, asking a federal appeals court to review the FAA's September 2025 decision approving near-term construction and expansion projects under the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The cities argue the FAA's environmental finding, known as a FONSI/ROD, should be scrutinized by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction because the cities are located within that circuit. The petition was filed on the last allowable day of the 60-day filing window, as the original deadline fell on a Sunday.