Tagcommunity engagement(226)

This 2018 Annual Progress Report, published in June 2019 by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), documents progress made under the LAX Master Plan Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), which outlines commitments to surrounding communities affected by airport expansion. The report was prepared by LAWA's Environmental Programs Group and covers areas such as environmental programs, business and social responsibility, and construction activities at Los Angeles International Airport. Note that this document pertains to LAX and is not directly related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

In a May 2019 email, community advocate Sheila Brush shares meeting notes with colleagues outlining key arguments for why Sea-Tac Airport's Part 150 noise compatibility study may be out of compliance, including concerns about lack of transparency in the public scoping process and the unstudied noise impacts of a third runway. The notes also raise questions about whether the Port's plan to fold portions of the Part 150 study into the SAMP and SEPA/EIS processes is appropriate, and whether the EPA's lack of sign-off on the previous study is relevant. Brush expresses gratitude to Sharyn Parker for taking on the effort to formally request a compliance assessment from the FAA.

The Beacon Hill Seattle Community Noise Team, a group of neighborhood residents working with the University of Washington, has been documenting the disproportionate impact of Sea-Tac Airport aircraft noise on their community. Building on decades of prior advocacy—including a landmark April 2000 report by Citizens for Aircraft Noise Equity—the team highlights that official noise impact assessments still rely on mathematical models rather than actual measured data. Beginning in October 2017, they launched a citizen science effort to conduct systematic, long-term noise measurements throughout the Beacon Hill neighborhood, with a focus on health effects and impacts on children's learning.

A Beacon Hill resident submitted scoping comments in September 2018 regarding the Sea-Tac Airport expansion, raising concerns about air quality, airplane emissions, noise impacts on children's health, traffic congestion, and environmental justice for communities of color. The commenter requested studies on health effects for nearby residents, better public outreach to non-English-speaking communities, and neighborhood noise monitoring equipment. She also expressed frustration about cost overruns on existing airport projects and the limited accessibility of the public open house held at New Holly.

This document contains public scoping comments from a September 10, 2018 hearing, including testimony from Jill Aldrich, a property owner of over 50 years, who raised concerns about a building site on 24th Avenue South near Des Moines Creek. She described observing bulldozed dirt and construction activity in close proximity to a stream located in a King County-designated Critical Area, visible from the Des Moines Creek Trail. Her comments reflect community concerns about environmental protection of nearby waterways during nearby development.

On May 30, 2018, the Port of Seattle held its first public open house for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), drawing 147 attendees who discussed Sea-Tac Airport's projected growth to 56 million annual passengers and 480,000 aircraft operations by 2027. Community members raised concerns about noise, pollution, and the disproportionate impact on nearby low-income and minority communities, while Port officials explained limitations on controlling flight schedules and discussed noise mitigation efforts. The meeting notes document questions and answers covering topics such as cargo forecasts, flight pattern changes, the airport's physical footprint, and the possibility of distributing air traffic among other regional airports.

The Port of Seattle presented a Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Update to the International Boulevard Business Operators and Transportation Review Committee on May 4, 2018, outlining the airport's long-term vision and near-term projects. The update covered planning progress, including completed steps such as FAA-approved market demand analysis and two rounds of public open houses, with a third open house planned for May 30. Three conceptual alternatives for a second terminal and roadway configuration were introduced, all requiring further study to assess feasibility, cost, and operational efficiency.

The Port of Seattle Commission considered a request to amend a contract with Just Health Action, a local community health nonprofit, to continue a pilot project engaging residents of the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown. The project, supported by a U.S. EPA Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building grant awarded in 2017, focuses on improving the Port's community outreach practices and addressing environmental health concerns in low-income and minority communities near Port operations. The total estimated project cost was $175,000, with the amended contract value reaching $224,999.

This 2018 document outlines community-identified opportunities and concerns from the Duwamish Valley EPA Environmental Justice Pilot Project, focused on improving collaboration between the Port of Seattle and nearby Duwamish Valley residents. It covers goals such as negotiating a Community Benefits Agreement, building community capacity, reducing environmental harms like air pollution and stormwater runoff, and improving green spaces and pedestrian safety. Note: this document addresses Duwamish Valley port and industrial area concerns and does not directly relate to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The Port of Seattle's 2018 Tourism Marketing Support Program allocated $200,000 to promote Washington state as a leading tourism destination, selecting 26 recipients from 45 applicants who had collectively requested $393,500 in funding. The selected projects, which include 22 culture, eco, and nature tourism initiatives, cover a range of marketing activities such as trade shows, digital media, international marketing, and event promotion. Recipients also contributed $148,008 in matching funds, demonstrating broad partnership across the state's travel and visitor industry.